Kidney cancer represents a significant global health burden, with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) being the predominant form. The treatment landscape for metastatic RCC (mRCC) has evolved significantly. Understanding the current status, trends, and research hotspots in kidney cancer immunotherapy is therefore crucial. This study aimed to systematically clarify the research status, hotspots, and trends in kidney cancer immunotherapy by integrating scattered studies via bibliometric analysis.
We retrieved literature from the Web of Science Core Collection [2014-2024] and conducted bibliometric analysis using CiteSpace 5.8.R3, focusing on publications, countries/institutions, authors, co-cited references, and keywords.
A total of 5,123 relevant papers were included, showing two phases of growth: steady development [2014-2018] and rapid expansion [2019-2024], with 2020 publications increasing by 50% compared to 2019. The USA, China, and Italy contributed 50% of total studies, while Harvard University and the University of Texas System were leading institutions (inter-institutional collaborations remained weak). Choueiri TK (87 publications) and Motzer RJ (four top co-cited New England Journal of Medicine papers) were core contributors. Dominant keywords included "renal cell carcinoma", "immunotherapy", "sunitinib", and "nivolumab", with "interferon alpha", "tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes", and "dendritic cells" as emerging burst terms.
Kidney cancer immunotherapy research has boomed since 2019, driven by the USA, China, and Italy. Core focuses are key agents and mechanisms, while tumor microenvironment-related topics represent future directions.
Translational andrology and urology. 2026 Mar 20 [Epub]
Qiong Guo, Zhongbiao Nie
Department of Pharmaceutical, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China.