Current status and trends of immune-related adverse events in lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: a bibliometric analysis of the past decade (2016–2025) - Report - MDSpire

Current status and trends of immune-related adverse events in lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: a bibliometric analysis of the past decade (2016–2025)

  • By

  • Bing Guo

  • Ge Zhang

  • Shengpeng Sang

  • Xianfen Ma

  • Huanpeng Qi

  • June 2, 2026

  • 0 min

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Trends and Current Insights on Immune-Related Adverse Events in Lung Cancer Patients

Overview

This bibliometric review analyzes the trends in research on immune-related adverse events (irAEs) associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in lung cancer from 2016 to 2025. It highlights the increasing publication volume, collaboration patterns, and evolving research hotspots in this critical area of oncology.

Background

Lung cancer remains the most prevalent and deadly cancer globally, necessitating effective treatment strategies. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized lung cancer therapy, offering significant survival benefits; however, they are associated with potentially severe immune-related adverse events. Understanding the landscape of irAEs is crucial for optimizing patient management and improving outcomes.

Data Highlights

YearPublications
2016-2019Initial Phase
2020-2022Rapid Increase Phase
2023-2025Stable Development Phase

Key Findings

  • Annual publication volume on irAEs in lung cancer has shown a continuous upward trend from 2016 to 2025.
  • China leads globally with 626 publications, while the US has the highest betweenness centrality in collaboration networks.
  • Co-citation analysis revealed two major groups: landmark trials of ICIs and guidelines on irAE management.
  • Research hotspots have evolved from general safety in melanoma to lung cancer-specific high-risk irAEs and long-term prognosis analyses.
  • Clinical studies predominantly focus on combination immunotherapy, pulmonary toxicity, and biomarker-related analyses.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare professionals should be aware of the increasing incidence of irAEs in lung cancer patients treated with ICIs. Early recognition and management of these adverse events are essential to improve patient safety and treatment outcomes.

Conclusion

This bibliometric analysis underscores the growing body of research on irAEs in lung cancer, highlighting the need for continued investigation into high-risk populations and effective management strategies.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Frontiers in Immunology, 2026 -- Research landscape, thematic evolution, and translational insights of immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced colitis: a bibliometric analysis (2006-2025)
  2. The ASCO Post, 2022 -- Incidence of Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  3. The ASCO Post, 2018 -- Immunotherapy-Related Toxicities May Be More Common Than Originally Reported
  4. Frontiers in Immunology, 2026 -- Multi-omics biomarkers for predicting resistance, hyperprogression, and immune-related toxicity during PD-1/PD-L1 therapy in lung cancer: a literature review
  5. NCCN 2025: Managing Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Toxicities in Cancer Care | Pharmacy Times
  6. Journal of Clinical Oncology -- Perioperative nivolumab (NIVO) vs placebo (PBO) in patients with resectable NSCLC: Updated survival and biomarker analyses from CheckMate 77T.
  7. PubMed -- Risk factors for checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis in lung cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  8. NCCN 2025: Managing Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Toxicities in Cancer Care
  9. Perioperative nivolumab (NIVO) vs placebo (PBO) in patients (pts) with resectable NSCLC: Updated survival and biomarker analyses from CheckMate 77T. | Journal of Clinical Oncology
  10. Risk factors for checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis in lung cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: a systematic review and meta-analysis - PubMed

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