Charting the growth of programmed cell death studies in uveal melanoma: a bibliometric evidence.

objectiveUveal melanoma is a malignant intraocular tumor with a high propensity for metastasis, and the significance of programmed cell death (PCD) in this disease has attracted growing attention in recent decades. However, few studies have systematically investigated the global publication trends, collaboration networks, and thematic focus areas in this domain. The current study utilized a bibliometric approach to examine how PCD research in uveal melanoma has evolved from 1999 to 2024, highlighting key contributors, citation patterns, and emerging research topics.

methodsData were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) for publications dated January 1, 1999-December 31, 2024. We restricted our search to original articles and reviews in English, employing a comprehensive keyword strategy to identify publications specifically addressing PCD mechanisms-such as apoptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis-in the context of uveal melanoma. After removing duplicates and screening for relevance, 536 publications were included. WoSCC was selected for its standardized indexing and cited-reference data; potential omissions from Scopus, PubMed, or Embase are addressed in Limitations. Bibliometric indicators, including annual output, institutional productivity, citation counts, and keyword co-occurrence, were analyzed using R-bibliometrix and VOSviewer. Data were last retrieved on May 1, 2025; analyses were restricted to the WoSCC 'Publication Year' 1999-2024 to avoid post-hoc reassignment. References published in 2025 are cited only for context and were not counted in the bibliometric dataset.

resultsIn total, 536 articles in 242 distinct sources were identified, reflecting an annual growth rate of 11.05%. The United States and China emerged as the leading producers of relevant publications, exhibiting robust and often international collaborative networks. Top institutions included major Chinese universities (e.g., Sun Yat-sen University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University) and renowned Western research centers such as Harvard University and Leiden University, many of which formed high-density clusters in collaboration maps. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science was the most prolific journal in this area, while Cancer Research and Nature ranked among the top in local citations. Keyword co-occurrence analysis revealed an evolving focus over time-from foundational topics like apoptosis and tumor proliferation to more recent interests in ferroptosis, immunotherapy, and metastatic pathways. These findings suggest that PCD research in uveal melanoma has matured into a dynamic, multidisciplinary field that intersects with precision oncology and immuno-oncology.

conclusionThis bibliometric study established a view of PCD research trends in uveal melanoma, demonstrating the field's rapid expansion, strong international collaborations, and an increasing emphasis on emerging cell-death pathways. These results underscore that deeper mechanistic insights into PCD processes have the potential to inform more effective therapies and prognostic tools, particularly in light of the limited treatment options once metastatic disease occurs. Early integration of PCD-focused hypotheses may support precision-medicine study design; however, bibliometrics cannot establish treatment benefit, and clinical trials are required to determine whether PCD-targeted strategies improve outcomes.