Joint research with APRU reveals new insights on laryngeal cancer

The joint research finds rising laryngeal cancer rates among women in some locations, despite global decline.

CU Medicine has collaborated with the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) to analyse the global distribution, risk factors and epidemiological trends of laryngeal cancer.

Laryngeal cancer is a rare form of respiratory cancer affecting the larynx and vocal cords. The five-year survival rate in the early stages can be as high as 90%, but drastically drops to about 30% in the later stages. Addressing the current lack of epidemiological information will help healthcare professionals to understand the current disease burden of laryngeal cancer and better rationalise treatment and resource allocation.

Study results showed that the incidence of laryngeal cancer is related to different places’ per capita GDP, Human Development Index, and levels of unhealthy lifestyle habits and exposure to metabolic risk factors. The incidence and mortality rates are generally higher in middle- and high-income countries and regions. Crucially, researchers highlighted that despite the decline in the global incidence of laryngeal cancer over the past decade, both the incidence and mortality rates among women in certain regions have increased. The research team urgently calls for further exploration of the reasons for the increased burden of laryngeal cancer in women. The study was published in a top international medical journal, the International Journal of Surgery.

The study is a collaboration between Prof. Martin Wong and Prof. Jason Huang from the Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care at CU Medicine, and Prof. Mellissa Withers from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. Prof. Wong and Prof. Huang are co-chairing the Non-Communicable Diseases Working Group of the APRU Global Health Programme to which Prof. Withers is the Programme Director.