Global research trends in immunotherapy for glioma: a comprehensive visualization and bibliometric analysis

Trends in the immunotherapy for glioblastoma: A two-decade bibliometric analysis

Glioblastoma is a life-threatening primary malignant brain tumor with an unfavorable prognosis. Contributing factors to its poor outcome include tumor heterogeneity, low mutational burden, and immunosuppression within the tumor microenvironment. Recognizing these challenges, immunotherapeutic strategies have emerged as a promising avenue for glioblastoma treatment. Although several dynamic research and scientific trend have increasingly taken pace in the immunotherapeutic approaches to glioblastoma, systematic bibliometric studies on such trends are few. On this note, this study explores a bibliometric analysis of the research hotspots and trends in glioblastoma immunotherapy. We conducted a search in the Web of Science Core Collection database for articles on glioblastoma immunotherapy published between 2004 and 2024. Using VOSviewer and CiteSpace software, we analyzed collected articles to explore aspects such as country of origin, journal of publication, affiliated institute, authorship, keywords, and citation patterns. As of May 1, 2024, we retrieved 3,729 papers on Glioblastoma Immunotherapy. In the field of glioblastoma immunotherapy, the United States stands out as the leading contributor, with 1,708 publications and a substantial 90,590 citations. Following closely, China has made significant contributions through 926 publications, earning 17,533 citations, while Germany adds to the body of knowledge with 349 publications and 16,355 citations. Furthermore, Authoritative journals in this field include Clinical Cancer Research and Neuro-Oncology. The top five keywords during this period were temozolomide, radiotherapy, dendritic cell, cytotoxic T lymphocyte, and vaccination. Moreover, Hotspots in the field include immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy.

Mediation Mendelian randomization analysis of immune cell phenotypes and glioma risk: unveiling the regulation of cerebrospinal fluid metabolites

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Gliomas, particularly glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), are the most common primary central nervous system tumors in adults and are notoriously difficult to treat due to their high heterogeneity and invasiveness. Despite advances in molecular diagnostics and personalized therapies, prognosis remains poor. The immune system plays a critical role in glioma progression. This study employed mediation Mendelian randomization analysis to explore the relationships between immune cell phenotypes, cerebrospinal fluid metabolites, and glioma, aiming to uncover potential mechanisms of tumor progression and immune evasion.

METHOD

In this study, we employed several analytical methods including IVW, MR Egger, Simple mode, Weighted median, and Weighted mode, with IVW results being considered the primary basis. We assessed heterogeneity and pleiotropy, and used leave-one-out analysis to determine sensitivity, ensuring the stability and reliability of the results. The potential mediating effects of cerebrospinal fluid metabolites were investigated to explore the underlying mechanisms linking immune cell function and glioma. The GWAS data for immune cells, cerebrospinal fluid metabolites, and glioma used in this study were sourced from public databases.

RESULT

We identified nine risk immune cell phenotypes for glioma (such as CD19 on IgD( +) CD24(-)), and ten protective immune cell phenotypes (such as CD11c on monocytes). Mediation analysis revealed that levels of 7-alpha-hydroxy-3-oxo-4-cholestenoate (7-hoca) (MP = - 14.6%) and Palmitoyl dihydrosphingomyelin (d18:0/16:0) (MP = 7.9%) partially mediated the relationship between CD3 on CD39( +) resting Treg cells and glioma. Additionally, 7-hoca levels (MP = - 12.3%) and Phenyllactate (pla) levels (MP = 4.12%) partially mediated the association between FSC-A on NKT cells and glioma. Furthermore, Glycerophosphoinositol levels (MP = - 12.1%) and Orotate levels (MP = - 11.4%) partially mediated the relationship between Granulocyte adenylyl cyclase (Granulocyte AC) and glioma.

CONCLUSION

This study identified that specific immune cell phenotypes directly influence glioma risk and indirectly modulate this risk through cerebrospinal fluid metabolites. CD19 on IgD( +) CD24(-) B cells were identified as risk factors, while CD11c on monocytes were protective. Metabolites like 7-hoca and glycerophosphoinositol play key mediating roles. These findings enhance our understanding of glioma pathophysiology and suggest that immune modulation and metabolic intervention may be promising therapeutic strategies.

A novel risk model consisting of nine platelet-related gene signatures for predicting prognosis, immune features and drug sensitivity in glioma

BACKGROUND

Glioma is a malignancy with challenging clinical treatment and poor prognosis. Platelets are closely associated with tumor growth, propagation, invasion, and angiogenesis. However, the role of platelet-related genes in glioma treatment and prognosis remains unclear.

RESULTS

A prognostic risk model was established using nine platelet-related prognostic signature genes (CAPG, CLIC1, GLB1, GNG12, KIF20A, PDIA4, SULF2, TAGLN2, and WEE1), and the risk score of samples were calculated. Subsequently, the glioma samples were divided into high- and low-risk groups based on the median values of risk scores. scRNA-seq analysis revealed that the prognostic genes were primarily located in astrocytes and natural killer cells. The immune infiltration proportions of most immune cells differed significantly between high- and low-risk groups. Moreover, we found AZD7762 as a potential candidate for glioma treatment.

CONCLUSION

Nine platelet-related prognostic genes identified as prognostic signatures for glioma were closely associated with the TME and may aid in directing the clinical treatment and prognosis of gliomas.

Global perspectives on the contribution of B cells to multiple sclerosis: an in-depth examination and evaluation

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive autoimmune disease, with increasing attention on the role of B cells in its pathogenesis. Despite this growing interest, a comprehensive analysis of research trends and emerging foci on B cells in MS is currently lacking. In this research, we utilize a bibliometric approach to visualize and analyze research trends and focal points in this field, offering a valuable reference for future mechanistic studies in MS.

Methods

We retrieved bibliometric data from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) for articles published between 2014 and 2023. VOSviewer 1.6.18 and CiteSpace 5.7R3 were used for co-authorship, co-occurrence, and citation analyses to identify key researchers, institutions, countries, and emerging themes in B cell research related to MS.

Results

The analysis examined 5,578 articles published in 1,041 journals by 5,337 institutions globally. The United States leads in publication output, with Amit Bar-Or identified as the most influential author, and Frontiers in Immunology as the top journal in the field. Research has increasingly focused on the complex role of B cells in MS, particularly their involvement in the central nervous system (CNS) and mechanisms of anti-B cell therapy. Recent trends point to a growing focus on meningeal inflammation, kinase inhibitors, and Epstein-Barr virus, signaling a shift in research priorities.

Conclusion

This bibliometric analysis highlights pivotal research trends, key contributors, and emerging areas of interest in B cell research in MS from 2013 to 2024. The findings underscore the growing recognition of the multifaceted role of B cells in MS pathogenesis, particularly their involvement in the CNS compartment and the potential of targeted therapies. The study identifies meningeal inflammation, Epstein-Barr virus infection, and kinase inhibitors as promising avenues for future research. The analyses driving the in-depth exploration of B cell mechanisms in MS and the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies provide researchers in the MS field with a comprehensive and objective perspective, serving as a valuable reference for accelerating the translation of basic research findings into clinical applications.

Analyzing research trends in glioblastoma metabolism: a bibliometric review

Background

A bibliometric and visual analysis of articles related to glioblastoma metabolism was conducted to reveal the dynamics of scientific development and to assist researchers in gaining a global perspective when exploring hotspots and trends.

Methods

The Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) was employed to search, screen, and download articles about glioblastoma metabolism published between 2014 and 2024. The relevant literature was analyzed using CiteSpace, VOSviewer and Microsoft Excel.

Results

A total of 729 articles were included for bibliometric analysis between 2014 and 2024, and the number of articles published each year showed an overall increasing trend, except for a decrease in the number of articles published in 2018 compared to 2017. Collaboration network analysis showed that the United States, Germany and China are influential countries in this field, with a high number of articles published, citations and collaborations with other countries. The journal with the largest number of published articles is the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Mischel PS is the most prolific author with 14 articles, and Guo DL received the most citations with 104 citations. Keyword analysis of the literature showed that the "Warburg effect" achieved the highest burst intensity, and "central nervous system", "classification" and "fatty acids" showed stronger citation bursts in 2024, indicating that they are still popular topics so far.

Conclusion

This article elucidates the research trends and focal points in the field of glioblastoma metabolism, furnishes invaluable insights into the historical and contemporary status of this field, and offers guidance for future research. Further research into glioblastoma metabolism will undoubtedly yield new insights that will inform the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Understanding the Significance of Hypoxia-Inducible Factors (HIFs) in Glioblastoma: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

The study aims to investigate the role of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) in the development, progression, and therapeutic potential of glioblastomas.

METHODOLOGY

The study, following PRISMA guidelines, systematically examined hypoxia and HIFs in glioblastoma using MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, and Scopus. A total of 104 relevant studies underwent data extraction.

RESULTS

Among the 104 studies, global contributions were diverse, with China leading at 23.1%. The most productive year was 2019, accounting for 11.5%. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1α) was frequently studied, followed by hypoxia-inducible factor 2 alpha (HIF2α), osteopontin, and cavolin-1. Commonly associated factors and pathways include glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3) receptors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt-mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). HIF expression correlates with various glioblastoma hallmarks, including progression, survival, neovascularization, glucose metabolism, migration, and invasion.

CONCLUSION

Overcoming challenges such as treatment resistance and the absence of biomarkers is critical for the effective integration of HIF-related therapies into the treatment of glioblastoma with the aim of optimizing patient outcomes.

Orexin-A mediates glioblastoma proliferation inhibition by increasing ferroptosis triggered by unstable iron pools and GPX4 depletion

Glioblastoma (GBM) represents a prevalent form of primary malignant tumours in the central nervous system, but the options for effective treatment are extremely limited. Ferroptosis, as the most enriched programmed cell death process in glioma, makes a critical difference in glioma progression. Consequently, inducing ferroptosis has become an appealing strategy for tackling gliomas. Through the utilization of multi-omics sequencing data analysis, flow cytometry, MDA detection and transmission electron microscopy, the impact of orexin-A on ferroptosis in GBM was assessed. In this report, we provide the first evidence that orexin-A exerts inhibitory effects on GBM proliferation via the induction of ferroptosis. This induction is achieved by instigating an unsustainable increase in iron levels and depletion of GPX4. Moreover, the regulation of TFRC, FTH1 and GPX4 expression through the targeting of NFE2L2 appears to be one of the potential mechanisms underlying orexin-A-induced ferroptosis.

Unveiling the landscape of cytokine research in glioma immunotherapy: a scientometrics analysis

Background: Cytokines modulate the glioma tumor microenvironment, influencing occurrence, progression, and treatment response. Strategic cytokine application may improve glioma immunotherapy outcomes. Gliomas remain refractory to standard therapeutic modalities, but immunotherapy shows promise given the integral immunomodulatory roles of cytokines. However, systematic evaluation of cytokine glioma immunotherapy research is absent. Bibliometric mapping of the research landscape, recognition of impactful contributions, and elucidation of evolutive trajectories and hot topics has yet to occur, potentially guiding future efforts. Here, we analyzed the structure, evolution, trends, and hotspots of the cytokine glioma immunotherapy research field, subsequently focusing on avenues for future investigation. Methods: This investigation conducted comprehensive bibliometric analyses on a corpus of 1529 English-language publications, from 1 January 2000, to 4 October 2023, extracted from the Web of Science database. The study employed tools including Microsoft Excel, Origin, VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the Bibliometrix R package, to systematically assess trends in publication, contributions from various countries, institutions, authors, and journals, as well as to examine literature co-citation and keyword distributions within the domain of cytokines for glioma immunotherapy. The application of these methodologies facilitated a detailed exploration of the hotspots, the underlying knowledge structure, and the developments in the field of cytokines for glioma immunotherapy. Results: This bibliometric analysis revealed an exponential growth in annual publications, with the United States, China, and Germany as top contributors. Reviews constituted 17% and research articles 83% of total publications. Analysis of keywords like "interleukin-13," "TGF-beta," and "dendritic cells" indicated progression from foundational cytokine therapies to sophisticated understanding of the tumor microenvironment and immune dynamics. Key research avenues encompassed the tumor microenvironment, epidermal growth factor receptor, clinical trials, and interleukin pathways. This comprehensive quantitative mapping of the glioma immunotherapy cytokine literature provides valuable insights to advance future research and therapeutic development. Conclusion: This study has identified remaining knowledge gaps regarding the role of cytokines in glioma immunotherapy. Future research will likely focus on the tumor microenvironment, cancer vaccines, epidermal growth factor receptor, and interleukin-13 receptor alpha 2. Glioma immunotherapy development will continue through investigations into resistance mechanisms, microglia and macrophage biology, and interactions within the complex tumor microenvironment.