Exploring the development and trends of prostate cancer radiotherapy research: a bibliometric analysis

Background: Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in men globally, with its incidence increasing annually due to lifestyle changes and an aging population. Radiotherapy, which has been a curative treatment for PC, has undergone continuous development and refinement since its introduction. However, few comprehensive reviews have been conducted on the hotspots and trends in this field. Therefore, this study employs bibliometric analysis to evaluate the key research domains, current research landscape, and future development patterns in PC radiotherapy over the last 30 years. Methods: Relevant literature on PC radiotherapy from 1994 to 2023 was retrieved using appropriate keywords from the Web of Science Core Collection database. A bibliometric analysis and visualization of annual production, countries, institutions, authors, journals, keywords and references were performed using CiteSpace and Bibliometrix. CiteSpace was used for systematic mapping to understand the structural evolution of this field over time. Results: A total of 4923 articles were included, and the annual number of publications showed a growing trend. The United States and the University of California System were the leading countries and institutions. International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics had the highest number of publications in terms of publication output. Alongi F was the most prolific author. The main study domains focused on technological innovations, assessment of treatment efficacy, and initiatives to reduce the risk associated with PC radiation. Stereotactic body radiation therapy is currently a major research focus, with potential advancements in PC radiotherapy emphasizing adaptive radiotherapy, proton and heavy ion therapy, and multimodal imaging approaches. Conclusions: It is evident from the analysis that the field of PC radiotherapy holds promising research prospects.

Prostate cancer; Radiotherapy; Stereotactic body radiation therapy; Bibliometrics; Visualization

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