Objective To explore the research hotspots and development trends in the field of cancer treatment in the past decade.

Methods The CNKI and Web of Science Core Collection databases were searched for Chinese and English articles related to cancer treatment published over the last 10 years. Bibliometric research methods were employed, including keyword cluster analysis of published literature.

Results A total of 45 455 Chinese articles and 866 958 English articles were retrieved. Combining the visualization analysis results and the current research dilemma of tumor treatment revealed that the current research hotspots of tumor treatment domestically and internationally can primarily focus on four key areas. In the realm of targeted therapy, efforts are directed towards the discovery of new drug targets, overcoming resistance to targeted therapy, and the development of monoclonal antibodies and antibody–drug conjugates. In the field of immunotherapy, the emphasis lies in enhancing the response rate to immune checkpoint inhibitors, determining the mechanisms behind resistance to immunotherapy, and improving the safety of treatment. The research in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) covers evidence-based evaluation studies on TCM treatment, the identification of populations that can gain the most benefit from TCM, and strategies for improving the quality of life. In the area of novel drug development, cutting-edge technologies, such as organoid-based screening for anticancer drugs, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence, are under investigation.

Conclusion New targeted drugs, immune efficacy improvement, multidisciplinary integration, nano-delivery, and TCM innovation are the key research directions in the field of tumor therapy in the future.