Mellissa Withers

Dr. Mellissa Withers

Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

13Years (2014-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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29 April 2022 in Cancers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Junjie HuangJunjie Huang
Junjie Huang
WCWing Chung Chan
Wing Chung Chan
CNChun Ho Ngai
Chun Ho Ngai
VLVeeleah Lok
Veeleah Lok
LZLin Zhang
Lin Zhang
O(on behalf of NCD Global Health Research Group of Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU)
on behalf of NCD Global Health Research Group of Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU)
This study aimed to investigate the most updated worldwide incidence and mortality, risk factors, and epidemiologic trend of ovarian cancer in different countries, regions, and age groups. The Global Cancer Observatory database was used for incidence and mortality rates of ovarian cancer in 2020. Data from Cancer Incidence in Five Continents and the WHO mortality database was accessed for trend analysis. Age-standardized rates (ASRs, per 100,000 persons) were calculated for incidence and mortality. The 10-year annual average percent change (AAPC) was estimated by Joinpoint regression analysis. There was an overall decreasing trend of ovarian cancer, yet its burden has been increasing in lower-income countries and among younger females in some countries. Intensive lifestyle modifications are warranted, especially for the populations at high risk for ovarian cancer, including smoking cessation, alcohol use reduction, physical activity, weight control, and treatment of metabolic diseases.


11 May 2022 in Journal of Hematology & Oncology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Junjie HuangJunjie Huang
Junjie Huang
WPWing Sze Pang
Wing Sze Pang
VLVeeleah Lok
Veeleah Lok
LZLin Zhang
Lin Zhang
DIDon Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III
Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III
Martin WongMartin Wong
Martin Wong
Background: Hodgkin lymphoma is a lymphatic malignancy commonly found in cervical lymph nodes. This study evaluated the worldwide incidence, mortality, associated risk factors, and temporal trends of Hodgkin lymphoma by sex, age, and country. Methods: The age-standardised Hodgkin lymphoma incidence and mortality were retrieved from the GLOBOCAN, CI5 volumes I-XI, WHO mortality database, the NORDCAN and SEER Program. The age-standardised prevalence of smoking, alcohol drinking, obesity, and hypertension was also extracted for each country. Trends were tested using Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC) from Joinpoint regression analysis. Results: The Hodgkin lymphoma incidence and mortality were 0.98 and 0.26 per 100,000 in 2020. A higher incidence was observed in high-income countries, while higher mortality was found in low-income countries. Incidence and mortality were associated with GDP per capita, prevalence of smoking, obesity, and hypertension at the population level. Despite the decreasing mortality trend, there was an increasing incidence, especially among females, younger population, and subjects from Asian countries. Conclusions: There was an increasing trend in Hodgkin lymphoma incidence, especially among subjects who were female, younger population, and from Asian countries. Further studies are needed to investigate the reasons for these epidemiologic trends.

22 July 2022 in Frontiers in Oncology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
JHJunjie Huang
Junjie Huang
SCSze Chai Chan
Sze Chai Chan
CNChun Ho Ngai
Chun Ho Ngai
VLVeeleah Lok
Veeleah Lok
LZLin Zhang
Lin Zhang
Martin WongMartin Wong
Martin Wong
Leukaemia accounted for approximately 2.5% of all new cancer incidence and 3.1% of cancer-related mortality. The investigation of its risk factors and epidemiologic trends could help describe the geographical distribution and identify high-risk population groups. This study aimed to evaluate the global incidence, mortality, associated risk factors, and temporal trends of leukaemia by sex, age, and country. We extracted incidence and mortality of leukaemia from GLOBOCAN, CI5, WHO mortality database, NORDCAN, and SEER. We searched the WHO Global Health Observatory data repository for the age-standardised prevalence of lifestyle and metabolic risk factors. We tested the trends by calculating Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC) from Joinpoint regression. The age-standardized rate of incidence and mortality were 5.4 and 3.3 per 100,000 globally. The incidence and mortality of leukaemia were associated with Human Development Index, Gross Domestics Products per capita, prevalence of smoking, physical activity, overweight, obesity, and hypercholesterolaemia at the country level. Overall, more countries were showing decreasing trends than increasing trends in incidence and mortality. However, an increasing trend of leukaemia incidence was found in Germany, Korea, Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom (AAPC, 2.32-0.98) while its mortality increased in the Philippines, Ecuador, Belarus, and Thailand (AAPC, 2.49-1.23). There was a decreasing trend of leukaemia for the past decade while an increase in incidence and mortality was observed in some populations. More intensive lifestyle modifications should be implemented to control the increasing trends of leukaemia in regions with these trends. Future studies may explore the reasons behind these epidemiological transitions.

22 November 2023 in International Journal of Surgery
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
Junjie HuangJunjie Huang
Junjie Huang
SCSze Chai Msc Chan
Sze Chai Msc Chan
SKSamantha GDipPsychAdv Ko
Samantha GDipPsychAdv Ko
VLVeeleah Lok
Veeleah Lok
LZLin Zhang
Lin Zhang
Martin WongMartin Wong
Martin Wong
Background: Though the laryngeal cancer only has 1% of the total cancer cases and related deaths, it is a type of head and neck cancers with the highest prevalence. This study aims to investigate the epidemiological trend of laryngeal cancer with updated data on the global distribution of the disease burden. Materials and methods: The incidence and mortality rate of laryngeal cancer was extracted from GLOBOCAN (2020), Cancer Incidence in Five Continents series I-X, WHO mortality database, the Nordic Cancer Registries, and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. The Global Health data exchanges for the prevalence of its associated risk factors. A Joinpoint regression analysis was used to calculate Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC). Results: The age-standardised rate (ASR) of laryngeal cancer incidence and mortality were 2.0 and 1.0 per 100 000 worldwide. The Caribbean (ASR=4.0) and Central and Eastern Europe (ASR=3.6) had the highest incidence and mortality rate. Incidence and risk factors associated with laryngeal cancer included tobacco usage, alcohol consumption, poor diet, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and lipid disorders. There was an overall decreasing trend in incidence, especially for males, but an increasing incidence was observed in female populations and younger subjects. Conclusions: As overall global trends of laryngeal cancer have been decreasing, especially for the male population, this could possibly be attributed to reduced tobacco use and alcohol consumption. Decrease in mortality may be due to improved diagnostic methods and accessibility to treatment, yet disparity in trend remains potentially because of differences in the level of access to surgical care. Disparities in temporal trends across countries may require further research and exploration to determine other underlying factors influencing this.

1 January 2022 in Gynecologic Oncology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Junjie HuangJunjie Huang
Junjie Huang
YDYunyang Deng
Yunyang Deng
DBDaniel Boakye
Daniel Boakye
MTMan Sing Tin
Man Sing Tin
VLVeeleah Lok
Veeleah Lok
Martin WongMartin Wong
Martin Wong