Research on tissue-resident macrophages in the field of cancer research: a bibliometric analysis from 2004 to 2025

In the tumor microenvironment, tissue-resident macrophages (TRMs) promote malignant tumor progression, yet their tissue-specific heterogeneity and complex functions bring research challenges. This study analyzes the research status and trends of TRMs in oncology. Via VOSviewer, CiteSpace, R software and WoSCC, a visual bibliometric network was built for quantitative analysis, with future research directions explored in depth. The US leads in publications and academic influence, and the University of Washington tops in paper output. Research focuses on TRMs’ origin, classification and tumor microenvironment functions; microglia and Kupffer cells are the most studied subsets. Current research centers on pathway exploration, immunotherapy and single-cell sequencing. This study summarizes TRMs’ research status, hotspots and trends in oncology, providing valuable insights for relevant collaborators and institutions.