Mapping breast cancer research on monoclonal antibodies: a data-driven approach using VOSviewer, Bibliometrix, and CiteSpace.

Monoclonal Antibodies and Breast Cancer Research (MABCR) has progressed substantially, particularly in the areas of HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer. However, a comprehensive synthesis of global trends, influential contributors, and emerging research areas remains lacking. This study presents a bibliometric analysis of MABCR, highlighting major research trajectories, key publications, and evolving themes. Using data from the Scopus database spanning 1972 to 2024 and applying a multistep search strategy cross-validated with MeSH terms, 14,764 English-language original research articles were identified across 2125 sources. Non-research documents, duplicates, and retractions were excluded. Quantitative analysis was conducted using Bibliometrix, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace. The annual publication growth rate was 17.8%. The USA and China were the leading contributors, while Breast Cancer Research and Treatment emerged as the most prolific journal. Influential authors such as Slamon, Baselga, and Hortobagyi were identified based on publication volume, H-index, and citation impact. Co-citation analysis revealed major thematic clusters including HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer, trastuzumab deruxtecan, and the integration of machine learning in MABCR. Emerging areas of interest include HER2-low subtypes and tumor microenvironment profiling using radiomics and multi-omic approaches. This analysis provides a structured overview of MABCR, offering valuable insights to guide future research and foster innovation in precision oncology.