Global research trends in PARP inhibitors for ovarian cancer: a bibliometric analysis

This bibliometric analysis maps global research trends on PARP inhibitors (PARPis) in ovarian cancer from January 2021 to May 2025, utilizing 1,434 publications retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Employing Bibliometrix, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace, the study quantifies contributions across countries, institutions, authors, and research foci. Key findings reveal the United States (440 publications) and China (352) as leading producers, with UNICANCER (287 publications) and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (61) as top institutions. Keyword clustering identified six research themes: PARPi resistance mechanisms (Cluster 1, red) emerged as the dominant focus, followed by immunotherapy combinations for platinum-resistant disease (Cluster 2, green), maintenance therapy (Cluster 3, blue), BRCA mutations (Cluster 4, yellow), applications beyond ovarian cancer (Cluster 5, purple), and anti-angiogenic mechanisms (Cluster 6, light blue). Temporal analysis highlighted an evolution from foundational research (e.g., DNA repair pathways) toward clinical translation (e.g., maintenance therapy optimization). Notable citation bursts surrounded clinical milestones, including the SOLO1 trial's 7-year overall survival data (burst strength: 23.99), underscoring the field's emphasis on survival outcomes. Critical gaps persist in understanding resistance mechanisms and developing immuno-combination strategies, which constituted only 4.8% of keyword frequency. The study underscores the need for intensified research into resistance mitigation and transnational collaboration, particularly between established Euro-American networks and emerging East Asian hubs, to address therapeutic challenges and optimize clinical impact.