A new bibliometric analysis has charted the global research landscape linking HPV vaccination to oropharyngeal cancer, revealing steady growth in publications over more than a decade alongside a persistent geographic imbalance in who is producing the evidence.
The study, published in Discover Oncology, analyzed publications related to HPV vaccination and oral cancer from 2012 to 2026, retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. The researchers identified 364 articles for inclusion in the analysis.
Using bibliometric tools including VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the R package bibliometrix, the team mapped publication trends, institutional contributions, author networks and emerging topics across the field. The analysis revealed a steady increase in research output over time, indicating sustained and growing scientific interest in the role of HPV vaccination in preventing oropharyngeal cancer.
The United States led the world in publication volume, according to the study. Key institutions such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention contributed significantly to the field, along with prominent authors including Markowitz LE, whose work ranked among the most influential in the analyzed corpus.
Among the emerging topics identified in the analysis was a growing focus on males, reflecting shifting attention within the vaccination research landscape. The authors note that this thematic evolution forms part of the broader development of the field over the study period.
Despite the overall growth in output, the research landscape remains geographically skewed, the study found. The authors highlight the need for expanded studies in underrepresented regions, arguing that a more equitable distribution of research capacity is needed to support global prevention efforts.
The analysis is descriptive rather than clinical: it maps what has been published, where, and by whom, and does not itself evaluate vaccine efficacy or clinical outcomes. Its value lies in identifying patterns of collaboration, productivity and topical focus across the 364-article corpus.
By documenting the development, collaborations and future directions of HPV vaccination research related to oral cancer, the authors argue that the bibliometric approach offers guidance for future efforts to achieve equitable global prevention. The study is open access and was published on 29 October 2026.
Subject of Research: Bibliometric mapping of global research on HPV vaccination and oropharyngeal cancer
Article Title: Mapping the global research landscape of HPV vaccination and oropharyngeal cancer
Article References: Han, Y., Ge, W., & Liu, L. (2026). Mapping the global research landscape of HPV vaccination and oropharyngeal cancer. Discover Oncology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-026-06216-1
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI: 10.1007/s12672-026-06216-1
Keywords: HPV vaccination, oropharyngeal cancer, bibliometric analysis, Web of Science, VOSviewer, CiteSpace, research trends, United States, geographic disparity, Discover Oncology, prevention, Mapping
News Source: Nathaniel Bowman. (October 29, 2026). Bibliometric analysis maps 14 years of HPV vaccination and oropharyngeal cancer research. Scienmag.
