A comprehensive bibliometric and visual analysis of tumor-associated macrophages in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality and primarily develops due to chronic liver diseases. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play an essential role in HCC progression. Understanding the role of TAMs in HCC is crucial to advancing research and treatment strategies. We conducted a comprehensive search in the Web of Science Core Collection from 1990 to 2024, identifying a total of 4,111 relevant publications. Advanced data visualization tools, including VOSviewer and CiteSpace, were utilized to map research trends and collaboration networks in this field. Our findings revealed a growing focus on key aspects such as macrophage dynamics, immune infiltration, and therapeutic targeting, underscoring the critical role that TAMs play in HCC progression and treatment. We observed significant contributions from research institutions in both China and the United States, with emerging hotspots centered around immunotherapy and exosome interactions. This comprehensive bibliometric analysis has highlighted the increasing importance of TAMs in HCC research and identified promising future research directions aimed at enhancing therapeutic strategies for patients afflicted with this disease.