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ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Emerging trends and research landscape of the tumor microenvironment in head-and-neck cancer: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis

Uddalak Das1,2*
CP 2025, 7(1), 64–82;
Submitted: 5 February 2025 | Revised: 28 February 2025 | Accepted: 21 March 2025 | Published: 8 April 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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Abstract

Head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a complex malignancy characterized by a highly heterogeneous tumor microenvironment (TME) that influences tumor progression, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. Despite significant advancements in understanding HNSCC at the molecular level, comprehensive analyses of TME-related research within this domain remain limited. Hence, this study presents a bibliometric analysis of TME research in HNSCC, synthesizing data on publication trends, citation patterns, collaborative networks, and emerging research themes. The findings reveal an exponential growth in TME-related publications, reflecting a rising focus on immunotherapy, stromal biology, and molecular biomarkers. Medicine and molecular biology dominate the research output, with interdisciplinary collaborations contributing to innovative therapeutic strategies. Key themes include immune resistance, extracellular matrix modulation, and the role of stromal components, like cancer-associated fibroblasts, in shaping therapeutic outcomes. Emerging topics, such as novel cell death pathways (e.g., cuproptosis and pyroptosis) and artificial intelligence-driven prognostics, highlight future directions. Citation networks emphasize the centrality of immunotherapy and precision medicine, with leading institutions and journals playing pivotal roles in advancing the field. This analysis underscores the importance of interdisciplinary research and highlights critical gaps, offering a roadmap for future investigations to improve clinical outcomes through targeted TME manipulation in HNSCC.

Keywords
Biomarker
Bibliometrics
Scientometrics
Meta-analysis
Cancer
Funding
This meta-analysis paper has received funding from the Department of Biotechnology, Human Resource Development, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India (grant no.: WB08000103).
Conflict of interest
The author declares no conflicts of interest.
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Cancer Plus, Electronic ISSN: 2661-3840 Print ISSN: 2661-3832, Published by AccScience Publishing
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