Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Mol. Biosci.
Sec. Molecular Diagnostics and Therapeutics
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2025.1538743
This article is part of the Research Topic Challenges and Opportunities in Tumor Metabolomics View all articles

Global Trends and Emerging Insights in BRAF and MEK Inhibitor Resistance in Melanoma: A Bibliometric Analysis

Provisionally accepted
Jianhao Bai Jianhao Bai 1Zhongqi Wan Zhongqi Wan 2Wanru Zhou Wanru Zhou 1Lijun Wang Lijun Wang 1Wei Lou Wei Lou 1Yao Zhang Yao Zhang 1Haiying Jin Haiying Jin 1*
  • 1 Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
  • 2 Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Objective: This study aims to perform a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global research on BRAF and MEK inhibitor resistance in melanoma, identifying key research trends, influential contributors, and emerging themes from 2003 to 2024. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database to retrieve publications related to BRAF and MEK inhibitor resistance from January 1, 2003, to September 1, 2024. Bibliometric analyses, including publication trends, citation networks, and keyword co-occurrence patterns, were performed using VOSviewer and CiteSpace. Collaborative networks, co-cited references, and keyword burst analyses were mapped to uncover shifts in research focus and global cooperation. Results: A total of 3,503 documents, including 2,781 research articles and 722 review papers, were analyzed, highlighting significant growth in this field. The United States, China, and Italy led in publication volume and citation impact, with Harvard University and the University of California System among the top contributing institutions. Research output showed three phases of growth, peaking in 2020. Keyword and co-citation analyses revealed a transition from early focus on BRAF mutations and MAPK pathway activation to recent emphasis on immunotherapy, combination therapies, and non-apoptotic cell death mechanisms like ferroptosis and pyroptosis. These trends reflect the evolving priorities and innovative approaches shaping the field of resistance to BRAF and MEK inhibitors in melanoma. Conclusions: Research on BRAF and MEK inhibitor resistance has evolved significantly. This analysis provides a strategic framework for future investigations, guiding the development of innovative, multi-modal approaches to improve treatment outcomes for melanoma patients.

    Keywords: Melanoma, therapeutic resistance, BRAF mutations, MEK Inhibitors, Immunotherapy

    Received: 03 Dec 2024; Accepted: 02 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Bai, Wan, Zhou, Wang, Lou, Zhang and Jin. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Haiying Jin, Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.