A bibliometric analysis of global research trends in adoptive cell therapy for triple negative breast cancer over the past 15 years.

BACKGROUND

The aggressive and diverse subtype of breast cancer known as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has poor clinical outcomes and few specific therapeutic choices. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), T-cell receptor-engineered T cells, and chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells are examples of adoptive cell therapy (ACT), which has become a promising immunotherapeutic approach. Its clinical application in TNBC is still difficult, nevertheless. This study used bibliometric techniques to thoroughly assess growing hotspots, intellectual structure, and worldwide research trends pertaining to ACT in TNBC.

METHODS

The Scopus database was searched for publications related to ACT in TNBC from 2011 to 2025. There were only original articles and reviews written in English. VOSviewer (version 1.6.20) and Microsoft Excel 2021 were used to analyse bibliometric indicators, such as annual publication output, country and institutional contributions, authorship patterns, citation characteristics, and keyword co-occurrence. To investigate thematic evolution and collaboration patterns, network visualisation and clustering analysis were carried out.

RESULTS

With a compound annual growth rate of more than 60%, a total of 8,496 publications were found, indicating an exponential rise in research output, especially beyond 2020. Together, China and the US accounted for over 60% of all publications, dominating the world's research output. The core research network was made up of a few institutions and very productive writers. CAR-T cell therapy, tumor microenvironment manipulation, immunological checkpoint inhibition, metabolic reprogramming, and biomarker-driven methods were among the clinically orientated themes that emerged from foundational and preclinical investigations, according to keyword analysis. The literature shows ongoing translational difficulties with regard to tumor heterogeneity, antigen instability, immunosuppressive microenvironments, and safety concerns in solid tumors, despite increased research activity.

CONCLUSION

Over the past ten years, research on ACT in TNBC has grown significantly, reflecting both unmet clinical need and growing scientific interest. However, continuous efforts to overcome biological and translational constraints are highlighted by the concentration of scientific leadership and the conceptual move towards combination methods and next-generation engineering approaches. This bibliometric analysis offers a thorough picture of the state of the field and could direct future research, teamwork, and the creation of more potent ACT tactics for TNBC.