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The landscape of current research on pediatric diffuse midline glioma: a quantitative analysis of shifts, leaders, and future avenues

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Abstract

Purpose

Diffuse midline glioma (DMG) has seen a surge of research interest in recent years with the growth in knowledge of new avenues for potential treatments. However, no bibliometric review of the field has been conducted to visualize the current state of the field. Here, we use bibliometric mapping to visualize the knowledge structure, collaborations, and trends in the field.

Methods

A total of 1079 original and review articles from 1996 to 2023 on diffuse midline glioma were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection on June 3, 2023. These files were analyzed with R and VOSviewer to construct bibliometric visualizations.

Results

Research interest in DMG has continued to grow, driven by publications of original research. Molecular characterization of DMG has been a key focus of recent literature, and terms relating to novel small molecules, mutations, immunotherapy, the blood–brain barrier, and liquid biopsy may be areas for future growth in the literature. Collaborating nations have generally been the North American and European nations, but other nations have begun to make their mark in the field. Leading and rising institutions and journals are described.

Conclusion

Research in DMG may continue to focus on molecular characterization and new therapeutics based on this knowledge. Novel collaborations between rising nations and institutions in the field may aid in accelerating this research.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA

    Allen Y. Fu & Alaya Gutha

  2. New Jersey Pediatric Neuroscience Institute, Morristown, NJ, USA

    Allen Y. Fu, Adam Ammar, John J. Collins & Catherine A. Mazzola

  3. Global Neurosurgery Initiative, Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Adam Ammar

  4. Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Adam Ammar

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  1. Allen Y. Fu
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  2. Alaya Gutha
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  5. Catherine A. Mazzola
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Contributions

A.Y.F. and A.G. wrote the main manuscript text. A.Y.F. prepared all figures. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Allen Y. Fu.

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Fu, A.Y., Gutha, A., Ammar, A. et al. The landscape of current research on pediatric diffuse midline glioma: a quantitative analysis of shifts, leaders, and future avenues. Childs Nerv Syst 40, 57–63 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-023-06178-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-023-06178-7

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