This bibliometric analysis explores the trends and developments in the field of tumor burden and immunotherapy. The study, conducted using data from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) up to January 3, 2023, analyzed 1030 publications over a 35-year period. The United States and China were the top contributors, with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center being the most productive institution. Key journals included *Cancer Immunology Immunotherapy* and *Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer*. Hot topics included 'nivolumab', 'tumor microenvironment', and 'immune checkpoint inhibitor'. Melanoma was the most popular tumor type. The analysis revealed a rapid growth in publication output from 2018 to 2022, indicating a robust stage in the field. The study also identified research hotspots such as the impact of tumor burden on immunotherapy responses, clinically practical indicators of tumor burden, and underlying mechanisms. The findings provide valuable insights for future research directions in this field.This bibliometric analysis explores the trends and developments in the field of tumor burden and immunotherapy. The study, conducted using data from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) up to January 3, 2023, analyzed 1030 publications over a 35-year period. The United States and China were the top contributors, with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center being the most productive institution. Key journals included *Cancer Immunology Immunotherapy* and *Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer*. Hot topics included 'nivolumab', 'tumor microenvironment', and 'immune checkpoint inhibitor'. Melanoma was the most popular tumor type. The analysis revealed a rapid growth in publication output from 2018 to 2022, indicating a robust stage in the field. The study also identified research hotspots such as the impact of tumor burden on immunotherapy responses, clinically practical indicators of tumor burden, and underlying mechanisms. The findings provide valuable insights for future research directions in this field.