Global research trends and emerging hotspots of immune checkpoint inhibitors in gastric cancer from 2015 to 2025.

Abstract

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as an important therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer. However, the rapid expansion of related research has made it challenging to comprehensively understand its developmental patterns and emerging directions. This study aimed to systematically evaluate research trends and hotspots in ICIs for gastric cancer using bibliometric methods.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection, covering publications from January 1, 2015, to October 28, 2025. Bibliometric analysis was performed using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Scimago Graphica to assess publication trends, collaborative networks, influential authors and journals, co-cited references, and keyword evolution.

Results: A total of 1440 publications were included. The overall research output exhibited a sustained growth trend. Global collaboration networks were dominated by a limited number of core countries and institutions. Keyword and reference analyses revealed that major research hotspots evolved from clinical efficacy validation to biomarker-driven precision stratification and, more recently, to tumor microenvironment modulation and combination therapy strategies.

Conclusions: This bibliometric analysis provides a structured overview of the research landscape of ICIs in gastric cancer. The findings highlight the progressive shift of research focus toward precision immunotherapy and mechanistic exploration, offering insights that may inform future basic and clinical research.