Research hotspots and trends in biliary tract cancers immunotherapy are revealed by a bibliometric study spanning the years 2014 to 2024

Abstract

Background: This bibliometric study aimed to map the global research landscape of immunotherapy for biliary tract cancers (BTC) from 2014 to 2023, identifying key contributors and emerging trends. Methods: We analyzed 481 English-language articles retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (2014–2023) using CiteSpace. Parameters included coauthorship, co-citation, keyword co-occurrence, and burst detection. Results: Annual publications surged by 80% in 2021 versus 2020. China dominated output (50% of publications), with Fudan University as the top institution. Fan Jia was the most prolific author (7 papers). High-frequency keywords included gemcitabine (first-line chemotherapy), tumor microenvironment, and T cells. Burst keywords indicated emerging foci: tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and growth factor receptor (e.g., HER2/ERBB2). The most co-cited study (Piha-Paul et al, 2020; 106 citations) reported pembrolizumab efficacy in BTC. Conclusion: Research accelerated post-2020, driven by clinical trials. China, Fudan University, and Fan Jia are central to BTC immunotherapy research. Future priorities include targeting HER2 and the tumor microenvironment.