Bibliometric and visual analysis: A comprehensive tracking of global research trends on ablation and tumor immune...

This study aims to gain an understanding the relationship between ablation and the tumor immune microenvironment. A bibliometric and visual analysis was conducted on relevant researches in this field over the past decade.

As of February 21, 2026, the research team conducted a literature search using the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database. Two researchers independently carried out the search. After screening, a total of 5328 papers were selected for analysis. Citespace 6.4.R1, VOSviewer 1.6.18, and Bibliomatrix R software were used for bibliometric analysis and visualization.

An analysis of research on ablation and the tumor immune microenvironment from 2016 to 2025 shows that China leads the world in the number of published articles and has extensive international cooperation. Chinese research authors, highly cited articles, and research institutions have all performed outstandingly. The study also reviewed the literature on the synergistic effects of ablation and immunotherapy, indicating the dynamic changes in research hotspots in this field.

The combination of immunotherapy and ablation is expected to become an effective treatment method for tumors. Ablation has evolved from local destruction to a core tumor treatment strategy that reshapes the immune microenvironment, and its combination with immunotherapy further demonstrates tremendous translational potential and clear clinical value.