DOI: 10.4103/wkmj.wkmj_65_26 ISSN: 2707-6180

From Molecular Design to Clinical Translation: A Scientometric Evaluation of 18F-Fibroblast Activation Protein Inhibitor Radiopharmaceutical Studies from 2021 to 2026

Aiganym Amrenova, Alma Shukirbekova, Zaru Kapassova, Sarzhan Kapassov, Andrey Gurin, Asset Sarsekeyev, Bibigul Kaliyaskarova, Amin Tamadon
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BSTRACT

Background:

Fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI)-based radiopharmaceuticals have rapidly expanded the landscape of molecular imaging. Among these agents, fluorine-18-labeled FAPI tracers are of increasing translational interest because fluorine-18 enables centralized cyclotron production, longer distribution windows, and potential scalability for clinical positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging.

Objective:

This study aimed to characterize the global research landscape of 18F-FAPI radiopharmaceuticals and to identify publication trends, leading contributors, collaboration patterns, citation structures, thematic evolution, and emerging research hotspots from molecular design to clinical translation.

Materials and Methods:

A bibliometric analysis was conducted using records retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection. The search focused on 18F-labeled FAPI-related terms, including 18F-FAPI, Fluorine-18 FAPI, F-18 FAPI, 18F-FAPI-04, 18F-FAPI-46, 18F-FAPI-74, Al18F-FAPI, and 18F-AlF-NOTA-FAPI. The final search was performed on May 10, 2026. Bibliographic records were merged and deduplicated using Digital Object Identifier-based matching followed by title-and-year matching. Bibliometric indicators included annual publication output, productive journals, countries, institutions, authors, citation counts, keyword co-occurrence, thematic evolution, and hotspot trends. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 principles were followed for reporting the search and selection process.

Results:

A total of 669 records were retrieved from PubMed ( n = 91), Scopus ( n = 268), and Web of Science ( n = 310). After the removal of 396 duplicate records, 273 records remained for bibliometric analysis. Annual publication output increased from 7 records in 2021 to 95 records in 2025; 37 records were identified in 2026, representing partial-year data. The most productive journals were European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging ( n = 54) and Clinical Nuclear Medicine ( n = 41). China was the leading contributing country ( n = 230), followed by Germany ( n = 20), Japan ( n = 18), and the United States ( n = 10). The most frequent thematic areas were nuclear medicine/molecular imaging, clinical translation, preclinical/biodistribution studies, oncology, and radiochemistry. Keyword analysis showed dominant terms related to fibroblast activation protein, FAPI, PET/CT, 18F-FAPI, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose, biodistribution, radiotracer development, and specific tracers such as 18F-FAPI-04 and 18F-FAPI-74.

Conclusion:

Research on 18F-FAPI radiopharmaceuticals has expanded rapidly, reflecting a transition from molecular design and radiochemical development toward preclinical evaluation, clinical PET/CT imaging, and early translational implementation. However, quality control, good manufacturing practice-compatible production, stability testing, and dosimetry remain comparatively underrepresented. Future studies should prioritize standardized radiosynthesis, validated analytical methods, multicenter clinical evaluation, harmonized dosimetry, and regulatory translation.

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