Global research trends on ALK-TKIs in non-small cell lung cancer: a bibliometric analysis

BackgroundLung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related incidence and mortality worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitutes the most prevalent histological subtype of lung cancer. A notable proportion of NSCLC patients harbor mutations in the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)...

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Main Authors: Yafeng Liu, Zhaojin Han, Yujia Li, Pengfei Zhang, Qiushi Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1665174/full
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author Yafeng Liu
Zhaojin Han
Yujia Li
Pengfei Zhang
Qiushi Wang
author_facet Yafeng Liu
Zhaojin Han
Yujia Li
Pengfei Zhang
Qiushi Wang
author_sort Yafeng Liu
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundLung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related incidence and mortality worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitutes the most prevalent histological subtype of lung cancer. A notable proportion of NSCLC patients harbor mutations in the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene, and treatment with ALK-TKIs has demonstrated favorable therapeutic efficacy in ALK-positive patients. This study aimed to systematically analyze the body of literature on ALK-TKIs in NSCLC over the past decade from a bibliometric perspective.MethodsRelevant literature on anaplastic ALK-TKIs for the treatment of NSCLC published between 2015 and 2024 was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Only English-language publications categorized as original researches and reviews were included. Additionally, clinical trial data from the past decade were collected from the ClinicalTrials.gov database. Bibliometric analysis, data processing, and visualization were conducted using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, Excel, and R.ResultsBetween 2015 and 2024, a total of 2,877 publications on ALK-TKIs for NSCLC were identified, with the annual output remaining consistently high, and 198 clinical trials were registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. China contributed the highest number of publications, while Massachusetts General Hospital emerged as the most prolific institution. The most influential journal in this field was Lung Cancer, and Alice T. Shaw was both the most prolific and one of the most influential authors. Keywords such as ‘lorlatinib’, ‘resistance’, ‘circulating tumor DNA’, and ‘immunotherapy’, along with keyword clustering, indicate current research hotspots and future directions in this field.ConclusionThis study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis and summary of the developmental trajectory, current research landscape, and future trends in ALK-TKI therapy for NSCLC over the past decade, with individualized and precision medicine remaining the primary direction for the development of ALK-TKI therapy in NSCLC.
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spelling doaj-art-bf4c7086433e4e9d8a7a2ce721a902e82025-08-20T03:36:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-08-011610.3389/fphar.2025.16651741665174Global research trends on ALK-TKIs in non-small cell lung cancer: a bibliometric analysisYafeng LiuZhaojin HanYujia LiPengfei ZhangQiushi WangBackgroundLung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related incidence and mortality worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitutes the most prevalent histological subtype of lung cancer. A notable proportion of NSCLC patients harbor mutations in the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene, and treatment with ALK-TKIs has demonstrated favorable therapeutic efficacy in ALK-positive patients. This study aimed to systematically analyze the body of literature on ALK-TKIs in NSCLC over the past decade from a bibliometric perspective.MethodsRelevant literature on anaplastic ALK-TKIs for the treatment of NSCLC published between 2015 and 2024 was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Only English-language publications categorized as original researches and reviews were included. Additionally, clinical trial data from the past decade were collected from the ClinicalTrials.gov database. Bibliometric analysis, data processing, and visualization were conducted using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, Excel, and R.ResultsBetween 2015 and 2024, a total of 2,877 publications on ALK-TKIs for NSCLC were identified, with the annual output remaining consistently high, and 198 clinical trials were registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. China contributed the highest number of publications, while Massachusetts General Hospital emerged as the most prolific institution. The most influential journal in this field was Lung Cancer, and Alice T. Shaw was both the most prolific and one of the most influential authors. Keywords such as ‘lorlatinib’, ‘resistance’, ‘circulating tumor DNA’, and ‘immunotherapy’, along with keyword clustering, indicate current research hotspots and future directions in this field.ConclusionThis study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis and summary of the developmental trajectory, current research landscape, and future trends in ALK-TKI therapy for NSCLC over the past decade, with individualized and precision medicine remaining the primary direction for the development of ALK-TKI therapy in NSCLC.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1665174/fullNSCLCALK mutationALK-TKIsbibliometric analysisCitespaceVOSviewer
spellingShingle Yafeng Liu
Zhaojin Han
Yujia Li
Pengfei Zhang
Qiushi Wang
Global research trends on ALK-TKIs in non-small cell lung cancer: a bibliometric analysis
Frontiers in Pharmacology
NSCLC
ALK mutation
ALK-TKIs
bibliometric analysis
Citespace
VOSviewer
title Global research trends on ALK-TKIs in non-small cell lung cancer: a bibliometric analysis
title_full Global research trends on ALK-TKIs in non-small cell lung cancer: a bibliometric analysis
title_fullStr Global research trends on ALK-TKIs in non-small cell lung cancer: a bibliometric analysis
title_full_unstemmed Global research trends on ALK-TKIs in non-small cell lung cancer: a bibliometric analysis
title_short Global research trends on ALK-TKIs in non-small cell lung cancer: a bibliometric analysis
title_sort global research trends on alk tkis in non small cell lung cancer a bibliometric analysis
topic NSCLC
ALK mutation
ALK-TKIs
bibliometric analysis
Citespace
VOSviewer
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1665174/full
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AT pengfeizhang globalresearchtrendsonalktkisinnonsmallcelllungcancerabibliometricanalysis
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