Knowledge-map and bibliometric analysis of scientific research on FDA-approved Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell products (2015-2024).

BACKGROUND

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy is a groundbreaking, personalized immunotherapy that genetically engineers patient or donor-derived T cells to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. The U.S FDA has approved six CAR-T cell products in the past decade.

OBJECTIVE

Given their clinical success and scientific novelty, this study aimed to map the research landscape surrounding the FDA-approved CAR-T cell therapies using bibliometric and knowledge mapping analysis.

METHODS

A comprehensive title/abstract search was conducted in Scopus database for documents published between 2015 and 2024. The search terms included generic, trade, and abbreviated names of all FDA-approved CAR-T cell products. Bibliometric indicators including average annual growth rate, citation impact, key contributors, authorship pattern, and international collaboration were assessed. Visualization maps of co-authorship and keyword co-occurrence were generated using VOSviewer.

RESULTS

A total of 1163 documents were retrieved, with an average annual growth rate of 63.4%. Tisa-cel and axi-cel dominated the literature with 51.7% (n = 601) and 554 (47.6%) publications respectively. Ide-cel appeared in 152 (13.1%) publications, liso-cel in 125 (10.7%), and cilta-cel in 120 (10.3%). Brexu-cel was the least represented with 106 (9.1%) publications. The retrieved publications received 57,097 citations (mean = 49.1 citations per article; H-index = 103). Hematology and oncology-related journals were most prolific. The United States led global research output with 694 (59.7%) publications. Research output from European countries showed strong dependence on U.S.-based partnerships. Institutionally, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, with 132 publications, was the leading institutions, followed by Moffitt Cancer Centre, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Authorship analysis revealed significant collaborative efforts, averaging 10.9 authors per article. Co-authorship map revealed academia-industry partnership. Temporal analysis of keywords revealed an evolution from CD19 target research (tisa-cel and axi-cel) to BCMA focused therapies (ide-cel and celta-cel). Thematic analysis showed four research themes: (1) molecular, therapeutic, and regulatory development of CAR-T constructs; (2) outcome of clinical trials; (3) economic and policy dimension of CAR-T therapy; and (4) treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma.

CONCLUSIONS

This study offers a translationally relevant perspective for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers, and underscores the evolving priorities in therapeutic development, access, and sustainability in precision oncology.