Research History, Current Trends, and Future Prospects of Liquid Biopsy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: An Analysis from a Global Perspective

Abstract Liquid biopsy has emerged as a significant technique in the field of triple-negative breast cancer, garnering widespread attention since 2012. Despite this, there remains a notable absence of bibliometric assessment in this area. This study screened 506 pieces of literature obtained from Web of Science (WoS) searches and selected 347 papers published between 2012 and 2024. Various software tools, including VOSviewer, CiteSpace, Bibliomatrix, and Scimago Graphica were used to visualize the results of the analyses. Through careful examination of visual graphs, this study conducted in-depth profiling mining, suggesting great potential and promise in this area. The linkage map of countries highlights the central roles played by the USA and China in this field over the past twelve years. Furthermore, the analysis of literature co-citations reveals a predominant focus on subtypes, cell models, and targeted therapies. Keyword analysis indicates previous emphasis on sensitive targets and advancements in the nano-field. Moreover, the evolution of keywords over time illustrates a transition from mechanistic inquiries to investigations spanning diagnosis, immunotherapy, and prognosis. These results offer valuable insights into the research process and potential future directions. Additionally, this paper integrates keywords, co-cited cores, coupling centrality, and visual analysis results of the most cited literature, using techniques such as timeline graph clustering and emergent words. Major hotspots are summarised, such as "biomarker", "target", "biological model", and "Immunotherapy inhibitors".