Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42317314›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in immunology2026

A bibliometric analysis of immunotherapy for chronic hepatitis B: trends and hotspots prediction.

Xingtao Jin, Yiqiang Tang, Yanlu Ma, Man Li, Yueqiu Gao

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in immunology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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.

Xingtao JinInstitute of Cellular Immunity Laboratory, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yiqiang TangInstitute of Cellular Immunity Laboratory, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yanlu MaInstitute of Cellular Immunity Laboratory, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Man LiInstitute of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yueqiu GaoInstitute of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection represents a major global public health issue, affecting hundreds of millions worldwide and serving as a primary cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In recent years, immunotherapies aimed at reconstituting or enhancing the host immune response to control or even clear HBV have emerged as one of the most promising strategies for achieving functional cure. Methods: A systematic search of the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and Scopus databases identified 3,029 relevant articles published between January 2005 and December 2025. Using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Scimago Graphica as bibliometric tools, evaluation metrics were extracted or calculated to analyze and visualize the knowledge map. Publications were categorized by country, institution, author, journal, highly cited papers, and keywords. These variables were compared in terms of publication output and academic influence, including metrics such as citation counts, citation impact, H-index, and journal impact factor. Results: A total of 3,029 relevant publications were retrieved, originating from 116 countries or regions and 4188 research institutions. China and the United States led in both publication volume and impact; the most prolific institution was the Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, followed by the University of London. Frontiers in Immunology was the most frequently cited journal; Janssen, Harry L A was the most prolific author, while Zoulim, Fabien had the highest H-index among all authors. Keyword clustering identified four primary categories: "functional cure", "hepatocellular carcinoma", "case report" and "advanced hepatocellular carcinoma". Keyword and citation trends indicated three major research hotspots: persistent viral reservoirs, profound immune system depletion, and progression-driven mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusions: This bibliometric analysis indicates that research on hepatitis B immunotherapy has experienced rapid development over the past two decades and is projected to grow rapidly toward the goal of "functional cure" in the coming years. Literature trends suggest that combination therapy strategies involving drugs with different mechanisms of action have been increasingly investigated for achieving functional cure for hepatitis B. Furthermore, comparative analysis of research trends across various immunomodulatory treatment regimens will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of investigational therapeutic pathways in the near future.

Indexed as

BibliometricsHepatitis B, ChronicHepatitis B virusImmunotherapyCarcinoma, HepatocellularHumansLiver Neoplasmsbibliometricschronic hepatitis Bfunctional cureimmune reconstitutionresearch trends

Identifiers

PMID42317314
PMCPMC13272414

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.