Mapping the landscape: a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of immunotherapy advances in glioblastoma research

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor in adults, with a poor prognosis largely due to its immunosuppressive microenvironment. Immunotherapy offers a promising approach by targeting this barrier to anti-tumor immunity. Despite growing research interest, an overview of the field's development is still lacking. This study uses bibliometric analysis to map trends and key advances in GBM immunotherapy research from 2005 to 2024.

A systematic bibliometric search was performed in the Web of Science Core Collection from 2005 to 2024, using a predefined search strategy combining terms related to "glioblastoma" and "immunotherapy". Only peer-reviewed articles and reviews in English were included. Bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Scimago Graphica to visualize research trends and collaboration networks.

From 2005 to 2024, a total of 2064 publications on GBM immunotherapy were identified, with China and the United States as the leading contributors. Co-citation analysis highlighted Roger Stupp as the most influential author, while Frontiers in Oncology was the most prolific journal. Keyword burst analysis revealed increasing clinical interest in nivolumab and chemotherapy, with neoadjuvant immunotherapy emerging as a promising research direction.

The analysis of 2,064 publications on GBM immunotherapy highlights a high level of collaborative effort aimed at advancing novel therapeutic approaches. The findings emphasize the importance of the tumor microenvironment and suggest that future efforts should focus on overcoming immune suppression and developing targeted combination therapies. This study provides a useful reference for guiding research and improving immunotherapy strategies in GBM.