A data-driven cartography of NSCLC vaccine research: Quantifying the paradigm shift toward immuno-oncology combination therapies

The therapeutic vaccine landscape for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has evolved substantially over the past three decades, yet systematic analysis of this progression remains limited. We conducted bibliometric analysis of NSCLC vaccine research using 765 publications spanning 1990–2025 from Web of Science and Scopus databases. Our temporal analysis revealed a marked paradigm shift from early investigations on single-antigen approaches (particularly MAGE-A3) and specific platforms such as BLP25 liposome vaccines toward combination strategies integrating immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and advanced RNA vaccine technologies. This reflects reorientation from standalone vaccine modalities to synergistic approaches combining vaccines with established therapeutics, including ICIs, targeted therapies, and antibody-drug conjugates. This bibliometric analysis provides the first systematic mapping of NSCLC vaccine research evolution, revealing a clear trajectory toward combination immunotherapy strategies and offering an evidence-based framework for identifying research priorities and informing future development directions in cancer vaccine research.