Bibliometric analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing in tumor microenvironment.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) has emerged as a pivotal determinant of tumor progression, immune evasion, and therapeutic response, making it a central focus in modern oncology. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has revolutionized our ability to dissect the cellular heterogeneity and dynamic interactions within the TME at unprecedented resolution, enabling precise identification of cell types, functional states, and intercellular communication networks. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 187 publications of scRNA-seq in TME, indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection from January 1999 to July 2024. Our analysis reveals that China and the United States are the dominant contributors in terms of publication volume and citation impact, with Peking University and Harvard University leading institutional output. Keyword analysis revealed that the most frequent terms were “tumor microenvironment,” “single-cell RNA sequencing,” “gene expression,” and “cancer”. Journals with highly cited articles mainly include Nature Genetics, Cancer Research, Annual Review of Immunology, Nature Communications, Science Translational Medicine, Genome Biology, Journal of Hepatology, and Nature Cell Biology. Current studies primarily focus on using scRNA-seq to identify cell types and subtypes within the TME, as well as to investigate cell-cell interactions and communication. These findings offer valuable insights into advancing our understanding of tumor genetics, immune evasion mechanisms, diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, and treatment resistance. While the field demonstrates rapid growth, enhanced international collaboration remains an urgent unmet need. Future research will likely to center on roles of immune and stromal cells within the TME revealed by scRNA-seq, as well as the integration of scRNA-seq with spatial transcriptomics and machine learning. It represents a promising direction for developing novel tumor therapies.