Targeted Therapy and Lung Cancer

Lung cancer remains one of the most prevalent and lethal malignancies worldwide, with targeted therapy substantially improving prognosis in specific molecular subgroups. However, a comprehensive bibliometric overview of this field has been lacking. This study aimed to systematically map the research landscape, hotspots, and global collaboration patterns of targeted therapy in lung cancer. Publications related to lung cancer targeted therapy between 2003 and September 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Bibliometric and visualization analyses were performed using CiteSpace and VOSviewer to evaluate publication trends, citation performance, collaborative networks, and keyword evolution. A total of 2,125 publications were included, comprising 1,405 original articles and 720 reviews. The annual output showed a steady increase, with China contributing the highest number of publications, while the United States and several European countries demonstrated greater citation impact and influence. Keyword and burst analyses revealed an evolution of research hotspots from classical driver mutations such as EGFR and ALK toward emerging targets including HER2, KRAS, and TROP2, as well as resistance mechanisms, immunotherapy combinations, and the tumor microenvironment. Globally, academic resources remain unevenly distributed, and international collaboration is imbalanced. Overall, this study delineates the knowledge structure and developmental trajectory of targeted therapy in lung cancer, providing strategic insights for future research directions, clinical translation, and global cooperation。