Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40134489›Full record

ArticleAnnals of surgery open : perspectives of surgical history, education, and clinical approaches2025

A Metrology Informatics Investigation of Conversion Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: 2014-2023.

Qi-Feng Chen, Xiong-Ying Jiang, Min-Shan Chen, Ning Lyu, Ming Zhao

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of surgery open : perspectives of surgical history, education, and clinical approaches, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Qi-Feng ChenFrom the Department of Minimally Invasive Interventional Therapy, Liver Cancer Study and Service Group, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Xiong-Ying JiangFrom the Department of Minimally Invasive Interventional Therapy, Liver Cancer Study and Service Group, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Min-Shan ChenDepartment of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Study and Service Group, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Ning LyuFrom the Department of Minimally Invasive Interventional Therapy, Liver Cancer Study and Service Group, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Ming ZhaoFrom the Department of Minimally Invasive Interventional Therapy, Liver Cancer Study and Service Group, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: With advancements in drug therapy, local treatments, and evolving concepts, conversion therapy has shown benefits for patients initially diagnosed with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Over the past 10 years, the conversion therapy field has accumulated a vast amount of underutilized data, necessitating in-depth bibliometric evaluation. Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective study collected a substantial amount of research on conversion therapy published between 2014 and 2023, adhering to strict search criteria. The primary outcomes were publication volume, citation count, and interstudy relationships. Comprehensive analysis was conducted using unsupervised hierarchical clustering, spatiotemporal analysis, regression model, and the Walktrap algorithm. Results: Over the past decade, conversion therapy has demonstrated significant progress, with an annual growth rate of 23.0%. Post-2020, these metrics saw a marked increase, reaching 116 publications and 1943 citations by 2023. Cluster analysis grouped 244 authors into 17 clusters, highlighting early and sustained contributions from Western authors compared with later-emerging Eastern authors. Research characteristics in HCC conversion therapy were classified into 5 clusters, with Cluster 2 (Target Therapy and Immunotherapy) emerging as a new focus. Thematic analysis categorized research characteristics into 4 quadrants, identifying "immune checkpoint inhibitor" and "combination therapy" as highly relevant and rapidly developing themes, while "hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy" and "radioembolization" show high potential for future research. Conclusions: This study highlights key contributors and emerging trends and provides important predictions for future research directions. To achieve effective conversion therapy for HCC, researchers may prioritize immunotherapy and locoregional treatments such as hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy or radioembolization.

Indexed as

bibliometric analysiscombination therapyconversion therapyhepatocellular carcinomaimmunotherapy

Identifiers

PMID40134489
PMCPMC11932632

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.