This bibliometric analysis identified the 100 most-cited articles on proton therapy for glioma published between 1997 and 2025 from the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus databases. The study aimed to identify influential articles and research directions rather than assess clinical outcomes. The analysis did not involve patient populations, interventions, or comparators typical of clinical research.
The United States produced the most publications in this field. Massachusetts General Hospital was the most prolific institution with 29 papers. The top three authors were Tarbell NJ, Macdonald SM, and Yock TI, with 15, 15, and 13 papers respectively. The analysis identified several emerging research directions including Monte-carlo simulations, childhood-cancer survivor studies, cognitive function, subventricular zone research, and radiation necrosis.
No safety, tolerability, or adverse event data were reported as this was not a clinical study. Key limitations were not reported in the source material. The study was funded by sources not reported, and conflicts of interest were not disclosed. This analysis provides a map of influential research and emerging topics but offers no evidence to guide clinical practice regarding proton therapy efficacy, safety, or patient selection for glioma treatment.
If you or someone you love is facing a glioma, a type of brain tumor, you might hear about proton therapy. It's a precise form of radiation, and researchers are actively studying it. A new analysis looked at the 100 most-cited scientific articles on the topic to see where the field is heading. It found the United States has published the most, with Massachusetts General Hospital contributing the most papers. The work also identified key authors and spotted emerging topics scientists are focusing on, like using advanced computer simulations and studying long-term effects on thinking skills in childhood cancer survivors. It's important to understand what this analysis is and isn't. It's a map of the scientific conversation—a look at what researchers are writing and talking about most. It doesn't study patients directly, so it can't tell us if proton therapy is safer or more effective than other treatments for glioma. It simply shows us the landscape of the research itself.
What this means for you: This maps research trends on proton therapy for brain tumors, not its effectiveness for patients.
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PurposeThis study aims to delineate the scientific advancements in proton therapy for glioma by analyzing the most frequently cited articles over the past 30 years.MethodsWeb of Science Core Collection and Scopus were independently queried for articles on proton therapy for glioma published between 1997 and 2025. Only items present in both databases were retained for downstream bibliometric analyses. The 100 most-cited articles from this intersection set were extracted for in-depth mapping of countries/regions, institutions, authors, journals, references and keywords. Data processing and visualisation were carried out with CiteSpace, VOSviewer, R-bibliometrix and the online bibliometric platform.ResultsThe United States showcased its strong global leadership in this field, leading in publication output and maintaining extensive collaborative networks with multiple countries. Massachusetts General Hospital emerged as the most prolific institution with 29 papers. Tarbell NJ, Macdonald SM, and Yock TI ranked as the top three authors with 15, 15, and 13 papers, respectively. The analysis also revealed emerging research directions such as “Monte-carlo simulations,” “childhood-cancer survivor,” “cognitive function,” “subventricular zone,” and “radiation necrosis,” which warrant increased attention.ConclusionThis bibliometric analysis represents the first systematic identification of the most influential 100 articles on glioma proton therapy. There is a pressing need to further enhance the clinical efficacy of glioma proton therapy while improving safety and reducing treatment costs, to ultimately bring more benefits to patients.
