Overview
Melissa graduated the University of Exeter with a first class degree in Medical Science (Pharmacology and Therapeutics). As part of her degree, she undertook a Professional Training Year where she researched the mechanisms of ovarian cancer metastasis, led by Dr Jacqueline Whatmore. Following this, Melissa developed a particular interest in cancer research.
Melissa was awarded her PhD studentship from the GW4 Biomed MRC Doctoral Training Partnership. For her PhD, she is exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying pre-diagnostic thrombocytosis in lung cancer patients and evaluating its diagnostic value as part of the DISCO (DIagnosis of Symptomatic Cancer Optimally) team. She is supervised by Professor Sarah Bailey, Professor Willie Hamilton, Professor Chris Scotton and Dr Giordano Pula.
In 2021, Melissa began working as a Graduate Research Assistant for the EPIC (Ethnic differences in Platelet count and other blood tests In the diagnosis of Cancer) study, led by Professor Sarah Bailey and Dr Tani Martins.
Qualifications
- BSc (Hons) Medical Science (Pharmacology & Therapeutics) – University of Exeter
Research group links
Research
Research interests
Melissa has a particular interest in cancer research. She is currently investigating the association of pre-diagnostic thrombocytosis within the different lung cancer subtypes (small cell lung cancer, adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma). She will later hope to achieve a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying this association by in vitro investigations. The epidemiological and in vitro data will then be compared to identify which lung cancer subtypes are more strongly associated with megakaryocyte modulation and thrombocytosis, which may benefit lung cancer diagnostics.
Research projects
Current Projects:
- Exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying pre-diagnostic thrombocytosis in lung cancer patients and evaluating its diagnostic value
- Investigating ethnic differences in blood test results for suspected cancer in primary care
Grants/Funding:
- Exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying pre-diagnostic thrombocytosis in lung cancer patients and evaluating its diagnostic value. PhD student. GW4 BioMed MRC Doctoral Training Partnership. £75,000. 2019 - 2028
- Investigating ethnic differences in blood test results for suspected cancer in primary care. Co-Applicant. Cancer Research UK Early Detection and Diagnosis Project Grant. £136,365. 2021 - 2024
Publications
Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year
Publications by category
Journal articles
Barlow M, Hamilton W, Ukoumunne OC, Bailey SER (In Press). The association between thrombocytosis and subtype of lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Abstract:
The association between thrombocytosis and subtype of lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
ABSTRACTBackgroundThrombocytosis is associated with poor lung cancer prognosis and has recently been identified as having a high predictive value in lung cancer detection. Lung cancer has multiple histological and genetic subtypes and it is not known whether platelet levels differ across subtypes.MethodsPubMed and Embase were systematically searched for studies that reported pre-treatment platelet count, as either averages or proportion of patients with thrombocytosis, by histological subtype of lung cancer. Suitable studies were synthesised in meta-analyses; subgroup analyses examined for differences across subtypes.ResultsThe prevalence of pre-treatment thrombocytosis across all lung cancer patients was 27% (95% CI: 17 to 37%). By subtype, this was 22% (95% CI: 7 to 41%) for adenocarcinoma (ADC), 28% (95% CI: 15 to 43%) for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 36% (95% CI: 13 to 62%) for large cell carcinoma, and 30% (95% CI: 8 to 58%) for small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The pooled mean platelet count for lung cancer patients was 289×109 /L (95% CI: 268 to 311). By subtype, this was 282×109 /L (95% CI: 259 to 306) for ADC, 297×109 /L (95% CI: 238 to 356) for SCC, 290×109 /L (95% CI: 176 to 404) for LCC, and 293×109 /L (95% CI: 244 to 342) for SCLC. There was no difference in thrombocytosis prevalence (p=0.76) or mean platelet count (p=0.96) across the subtypes.ConclusionWe report no evidence of differences in platelet levels across the major subtypes of lung cancer. A high platelet level is likely to be generic across all lung cancer subtypes.KEY MESSAGESWhat is the key question?Which (if any) subtype(s) of lung cancer are more associated with thrombocytosis?What is the bottom line?This can facilitate lung cancer diagnostics and provide insights into the biological mechanism between lung cancer and thrombocytosis.Why read on?This is the first systematic review to compare platelet count across different subtypes of lung cancer, combining data from 9,891 patients across 38 studies.
Abstract.
Barlow M, Down L, Mounce LTA, Merriel SWD, Watson J, Martins T, Bailey SER (2023). Ethnic differences in prostate-specific antigen levels in men without prostate cancer: a systematic review.
Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis,
26(2), 249-256.
Abstract:
Ethnic differences in prostate-specific antigen levels in men without prostate cancer: a systematic review.
INTRODUCTION: Black men are twice as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than White men. Raised prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels can indicate an increased risk of prostate cancer, however it is not known whether PSA levels differ for men of different ethnic groups. METHODS: PubMed and Embase were searched to identify studies that reported levels of PSA for men of at least two ethnic groups without a prostate cancer diagnosis or symptoms suggestive of prostate cancer. An adaptation of the Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess risk of bias and study quality. Findings were stratified into the following broad ethnic groups: White, Black, Asian, Hispanic, and Other. Data were analysed in a narrative synthesis due to the heterogeneity of reported PSA measures and methods in the included studies. RESULTS: a total of 654 197 males from 13 studies were included. By ethnicity, this included 536 201 White (82%), 38 287 Black (6%), 38 232 Asian (6%), 18 029 Pacific Island (3%), 13 614 Maori (2%), 8 885 Hispanic (1%), and 949 Other (
Abstract.
Author URL.
Barlow M, Hamilton W, Ukoumunne OC, Bailey SER (2021). The association between thrombocytosis and subtype of lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Translational Cancer Research,
10(3), 1249-1260.
Abstract:
The association between thrombocytosis and subtype of lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: Thrombocytosis is associated with poor lung cancer prognosis and has recently been identified as having a high positive predictive value in lung cancer detection. Lung cancer has multiple histological and genetic subtypes and it is not known whether platelet levels differ across these subtypes, or whether thrombocytosis is predictive of a particular subtype. Methods: PubMed and Embase were systematically searched for studies that reported pre-treatment platelet count, as either averages or proportion of patients with thrombocytosis, by subtype of lung cancer using a prespecified search strategy. The Newcastle-Ottowa scale was used to assess study quality and risk of bias. Suitable studies were synthesised in meta-analyses and subgroup analyses examined for differences across subtypes. Results: the prevalence of pre-treatment thrombocytosis across all lung cancer patients was 27% (95% CI: 17% to 37%). By subtype, this was 22% (95% CI: 7% to 41%) for adenocarcinoma, 28% (95% CI: 15% to 43%) for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 36% (95% CI: 13% to 62%) for large cell carcinoma (LCC), and 30% (95% CI: 8% to 58%) for small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The pooled mean platelet count for lung cancer patients was 289×109/L (95% CI: 268 to 311). By subtype, this was 282×109/L (95% CI: 259 to 306) for adenocarcinoma, 297×109/L (95% CI: 238 to 356) for SCC, 290×109/L (95% CI: 176 to 404) for LCC, and 293×109/L (95% CI: 244 to 342) for SCLC. There was no difference in thrombocytosis prevalence (P=0.76) or mean platelet count (P=0.96) across the subtypes. Conclusions: These findings suggest thrombocytosis is no more indicative of one lung cancer subtype over another. We therefore conclude a high platelet count is likely to be generic across all lung cancer subtypes.
Abstract.
(2018). Abstracts of the 68th annual meeting in University of Nottingham.
MicrocirculationAbstract:
Abstracts of the 68th annual meeting in University of Nottingham.
Placental hypervascularization observed in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) may be related to functional availability of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors. We aimed to test whether changes in phosphorylation of tyrosine 951 or tyrosine 1175 (pY951 or pY1175) of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) are associated with the proangiogenic state observed in placentas from GDM This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Abstract.
Author URL.
Publications by year
In Press
Barlow M, Hamilton W, Ukoumunne OC, Bailey SER (In Press). The association between thrombocytosis and subtype of lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Abstract:
The association between thrombocytosis and subtype of lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
ABSTRACTBackgroundThrombocytosis is associated with poor lung cancer prognosis and has recently been identified as having a high predictive value in lung cancer detection. Lung cancer has multiple histological and genetic subtypes and it is not known whether platelet levels differ across subtypes.MethodsPubMed and Embase were systematically searched for studies that reported pre-treatment platelet count, as either averages or proportion of patients with thrombocytosis, by histological subtype of lung cancer. Suitable studies were synthesised in meta-analyses; subgroup analyses examined for differences across subtypes.ResultsThe prevalence of pre-treatment thrombocytosis across all lung cancer patients was 27% (95% CI: 17 to 37%). By subtype, this was 22% (95% CI: 7 to 41%) for adenocarcinoma (ADC), 28% (95% CI: 15 to 43%) for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 36% (95% CI: 13 to 62%) for large cell carcinoma, and 30% (95% CI: 8 to 58%) for small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The pooled mean platelet count for lung cancer patients was 289×109 /L (95% CI: 268 to 311). By subtype, this was 282×109 /L (95% CI: 259 to 306) for ADC, 297×109 /L (95% CI: 238 to 356) for SCC, 290×109 /L (95% CI: 176 to 404) for LCC, and 293×109 /L (95% CI: 244 to 342) for SCLC. There was no difference in thrombocytosis prevalence (p=0.76) or mean platelet count (p=0.96) across the subtypes.ConclusionWe report no evidence of differences in platelet levels across the major subtypes of lung cancer. A high platelet level is likely to be generic across all lung cancer subtypes.KEY MESSAGESWhat is the key question?Which (if any) subtype(s) of lung cancer are more associated with thrombocytosis?What is the bottom line?This can facilitate lung cancer diagnostics and provide insights into the biological mechanism between lung cancer and thrombocytosis.Why read on?This is the first systematic review to compare platelet count across different subtypes of lung cancer, combining data from 9,891 patients across 38 studies.
Abstract.
2023
Barlow M, Down L, Mounce LTA, Merriel SWD, Watson J, Martins T, Bailey SER (2023). Ethnic differences in prostate-specific antigen levels in men without prostate cancer: a systematic review.
Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis,
26(2), 249-256.
Abstract:
Ethnic differences in prostate-specific antigen levels in men without prostate cancer: a systematic review.
INTRODUCTION: Black men are twice as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than White men. Raised prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels can indicate an increased risk of prostate cancer, however it is not known whether PSA levels differ for men of different ethnic groups. METHODS: PubMed and Embase were searched to identify studies that reported levels of PSA for men of at least two ethnic groups without a prostate cancer diagnosis or symptoms suggestive of prostate cancer. An adaptation of the Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess risk of bias and study quality. Findings were stratified into the following broad ethnic groups: White, Black, Asian, Hispanic, and Other. Data were analysed in a narrative synthesis due to the heterogeneity of reported PSA measures and methods in the included studies. RESULTS: a total of 654 197 males from 13 studies were included. By ethnicity, this included 536 201 White (82%), 38 287 Black (6%), 38 232 Asian (6%), 18 029 Pacific Island (3%), 13 614 Maori (2%), 8 885 Hispanic (1%), and 949 Other (
Abstract.
Author URL.
2021
Barlow M, Hamilton W, Ukoumunne OC, Bailey SER (2021). The association between thrombocytosis and subtype of lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Translational Cancer Research,
10(3), 1249-1260.
Abstract:
The association between thrombocytosis and subtype of lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: Thrombocytosis is associated with poor lung cancer prognosis and has recently been identified as having a high positive predictive value in lung cancer detection. Lung cancer has multiple histological and genetic subtypes and it is not known whether platelet levels differ across these subtypes, or whether thrombocytosis is predictive of a particular subtype. Methods: PubMed and Embase were systematically searched for studies that reported pre-treatment platelet count, as either averages or proportion of patients with thrombocytosis, by subtype of lung cancer using a prespecified search strategy. The Newcastle-Ottowa scale was used to assess study quality and risk of bias. Suitable studies were synthesised in meta-analyses and subgroup analyses examined for differences across subtypes. Results: the prevalence of pre-treatment thrombocytosis across all lung cancer patients was 27% (95% CI: 17% to 37%). By subtype, this was 22% (95% CI: 7% to 41%) for adenocarcinoma, 28% (95% CI: 15% to 43%) for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 36% (95% CI: 13% to 62%) for large cell carcinoma (LCC), and 30% (95% CI: 8% to 58%) for small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The pooled mean platelet count for lung cancer patients was 289×109/L (95% CI: 268 to 311). By subtype, this was 282×109/L (95% CI: 259 to 306) for adenocarcinoma, 297×109/L (95% CI: 238 to 356) for SCC, 290×109/L (95% CI: 176 to 404) for LCC, and 293×109/L (95% CI: 244 to 342) for SCLC. There was no difference in thrombocytosis prevalence (P=0.76) or mean platelet count (P=0.96) across the subtypes. Conclusions: These findings suggest thrombocytosis is no more indicative of one lung cancer subtype over another. We therefore conclude a high platelet count is likely to be generic across all lung cancer subtypes.
Abstract.
2018
(2018). Abstracts of the 68th annual meeting in University of Nottingham.
MicrocirculationAbstract:
Abstracts of the 68th annual meeting in University of Nottingham.
Placental hypervascularization observed in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) may be related to functional availability of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors. We aimed to test whether changes in phosphorylation of tyrosine 951 or tyrosine 1175 (pY951 or pY1175) of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) are associated with the proangiogenic state observed in placentas from GDM This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Abstract.
Author URL.
Melissa_Sampson Details from cache as at 2023-09-23 16:51:49
Refresh publications
External Engagement and Impact
Awards
Undergraduate awards:
- Deans’ Commendation (first year)
- Special Commendation for Scientific Research & Communication (second year)
- Deans’ Commendation (final year)