Faculty and Staff Profile

Janice Withycombe

Educational Background

PhD Nursing
University of Arizona 2015

MN Nursing
University of South Carolina 1993

BSN Nursing
Clemson University 1987

Courses Taught

Research
Departmental Honors
Applications of Precision Oncology

Profile

As a scientist and a pediatric nurse, I am committed to improving the lives of children with cancer and other chronic diseases. My research explores metabolomic changes associated with patient symptoms (such as fatigue) and response to interventions (such as physical activity). I have also worked to explore camp programs and their impact on children with chronic illnesses and their caregivers. For children actively receiving cancer therapy, I advocate for capturing symptom reports to fully understand the impact of their treatment. To enhance reporting of symptoms, I have worked on multiple NIH funded studies related to instrument development and validation for pediatric Patient Reported Outcome (PRO) measures (specifically Pediatric PROMIS and Pediatric PRO-Common Terminology Criteria of Adverse Events). I have also led multiple nursing research and evidence based practice projects through the Children's Oncology Group (the largest pediatric cooperative cancer research organization in the United States) and am a past Chair for the Nursing Research Committee within this group. At Clemson University School of Nursing, I teach in the PhD Healthcare Genetics and Genomics Program and also coordinate the Undergraduate Departmental Honors Program (a research focused experience). I especially enjoy mentoring students who aspire to become future academic researchers.

Research Interests

Genetic/Genomics of Cancer
Pediatric Oncology
Physical Activity and changes in metabolites (gut microbiome)
Metabolomics
Patient Reported Outcomes
Pediatric Oncology Summer Camps
Symptom experiences during cancer treatment

Research Publications

See link to Google Scholar Page below for complete list of all publications.

Withycombe, J. S. and Duffy, E. A. (in press, 2026). Guest Editorial. The role of pediatric oncology nurses in the era of precision oncology. Journal of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nursing.

Fasolino, T., Parry, B., Skroki, A., Withycombe, J. S., Garst, B. A., Gillard, An., Gagnon, R., Hollandsworth, R. (2025). A rapid review exploring overnight camps for children with chronic or serious illness as a palliative care intervention for caregivers. Journal of Palliative Medicine,28, S17-S26.
doi: 10.1177/10966218251377082

Manolados, P., Wang, Y., Withycombe, J. S., Boccuto, L., Ivankovic, D. (2025). Prognostic impact of KRAS and SMARCA4 mutations and co-mutations on survival in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Insights from the AACR Gennie BPC Dataset. BioMedicines, 13(9), 2142. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines13092142

Kung, E. O., Stokowski, S., Withycombe, J. S., Li, X., Godfrey, M. (2025). Using wearable technology to explore sleep’s influence on college women’s basketball performance. Archives of Physical Health and Sports Medicine, 7(1), 18-27. https://doi.org/10.22259/2639-1805.0701003

Withycombe, J. S., Bai, J., Xiao, C., Eldridge, R. C. (2025). Metabolomic Associations with Fatigue and Physical Function in Children with Cancer: A Pilot Study. Biological Research for Nursing, 27(3), 453-463. https://doi.org/10.1177/10998004251335639

Bryan, G., Guolla, L., Villanueva, G. I., Cohen-Gogo, S., Casanovas, A., Medina, R., Revon-Riviere, G., Coltin, H., Kalley, L. S., Withycombe, J. S., ……….Esbenshade, A. J. (2024). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic onset on the early careers of pediatric oncology health professionals and researchers: A report from the Children’s Oncology Group young investigators committee, Young SIOP Network, and Young SIOPE. Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 72(1), e31419. https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.31419

Webster, C. I., Withycombe, J. S., Bhutadac, J. S., Bai, J. (2024). Microbiome and Metabolic Pathways Associated with Psychoneurological Symptoms in Children with Cancer. Asian-Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing, 1-10 (Advance online publication). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjon.2024.100535

Stewart, L, Koci, A., Lowe, T. B., Patterson, W. G., Farrell, C. L., Withycombe, J. S. (2024). Sharing genomic tumor sequencing results with patients: Experiences of advanced practice oncology providers. Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology, 1-10 (Advance online publication). https://doi.org/10.6004/jadpro.2024.15.8.1

Montgomery, K., Zupanec, S., Yun, C., Okada, M., Kubaney, H., Feehily, E., Withycombe, J. S. (2024). A Quality Approach to Blinatumomab Delivery in Pediatric Oncology Clinicians’ Perspectives: A Children’s Oncology Group Study. Journal of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nursing, 41(5), 324-335. https://doi.org/10.1177/27527530241267303

Stewart, L, Patterson, W. G., Farrell, C. L., Withycombe, J. S. (2024). A case for caution: Patient use of artificial intelligence. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 28(3), 252-256. doi: 10.1188/24.CJON.252-256.

Withycombe, J. S., Kubaney, H. R., Okada, M., Yun, C. S., Gupta, S., Bloom, C., Parker, V., Rau, R., Zupanec, S. (2024). Delivery of care for pediatric patients receiving blinatumomab: A Children’s Oncology Group study. Cancer Nursing, 47(6), 451-459. doi: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000001309. PMID: 38016041. NIHMSID:NIHMS1935986.

Cheng, L., Reeve, B. B., Withycombe, J. S., Jacobs, S. S., Mack, J. W., Weaver, M., Mann, C. M., Waldron, M., C., Maurer, S. H., Baker, J. N., Wang, J., Hinds, P. S. (2023). Profiles of symptom suffering and functioning in children and adolescents receiving chemotherapy. Cancer Nursing, 46(2), E129-E137. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCC.0000000000001122

Jacobs, S. S., Withycombe, J. S., Castellino, S. M., Lin, L., Mack, J.W., McFatrich, M., Baker, J. N., Freyer, D. R., Maurer, S. H., Mowbray, C., Hinds, P. S., Reeve, B. B. (2022). Longitudinal use of patient reported outcomes in pediatric leukemia and lymphoma reveals clinically relevant symptomatic adverse events. Pediatric Blood & Cancer. Published online first September 24, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.29986

Cheng, L., Reeve, B. B., Withycombe, J. S., Jacobs, S. S., Mack, J. W., Weaver, M., Mann, C. M., Waldron, M., C., Maurer, S. H., Baker, J. N., Wang, J., Hinds, P. S. (2022). Profiles of symptom suffering and functioning in children and adolescents receiving chemotherapy. Cancer Nursing. Published on-line first July 11, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCC.0000000000001122

D’Elia, S., Withycombe, J. S., Temples, H. S., Fisher, B. (2022). Retinoblastoma: Life-saving detection in primary care. Journal of Nurse Practitioners. Published on-line first May 31, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2022.04.017

Withycombe, J. S., Eldridge, R., Jin, Y., Gu, H., Castellino, S., Sears, D. (2022). Metabolites associated with fatigue and physical activity in childhood cancer. Biological Research for Nursing. Published on-line first April 25, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1177/10998004221085029

Weaver, M. S., Jacobs, S. S., Withycombe, J. S., Wang, J., Greenzang, K. A., Baker, J. N., Hinds, P. S. (2022). Profile comparison of patient-reported and proxy-reported symptoms in pediatric cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. JAMA Network Open. Published on-line first March 29, 2022. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.1855

Freyer, D. R., Lin, L., Mack, J. W., Maurer, S. H., McFatrich, M., Baker, J. N., Jacobs, S. S., Lucas, N., Withycombe, J. S., Tomlinson, D., Villaboza, K. R., Waldron, M. K., Hinds, P. S., Reeve, B. B. (2022). Lack of concordance in symptomatic adverse event reporting by children, clinicians and caregivers: Implications for cancer clinical trials. Journal of Clinical Oncology. Published on-line first March 16, 2022. doi: http://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.21.02669

Bai, J., Withycombe, J. S., Eldridge, R. (2022). Metabolomic pathways associated with psychoneurological symptoms in children with cancer receiving chemotherapy. Biological Research for Nursing. Published on-line first March 12, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1177/10998004211069619

Withycombe, J.S., McFatrich, M., Hinds, P. S., Bennett, Lin, L., Maurer, S., Lucas, N., Mann, C. M., Castellino, S. M., Baker, J. N., Reeve, B. (2022). Can steps-per-day reflect symptoms in children and adolescents undergoing cancer treatment? Cancer Nursing. Published on-line first February 5, 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/NCC.0000000000001062

Thrift, K. C., Withycombe, J. S., Temples, H. S. (2021). Is it Kawasaki Disease or Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children? Journal of Nurse Practitioners. Published on-line first November 2,2021. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2021.08.006

Maurer, S. H., Hinds, P. S., Reeve, B. B., Mack, J. W., McFatrich, M., Lin, L., Withycombe, J. S., Jacobs, S. S., Baker, J., N., Castellino, S. M., Freyer, D. R. (2021). Patients, caregivers and clinicians differ in performance status ratings: Implications for pediatric cancer clinical trials. Cancer, 127(19), 3664-3670. Published on-line first July 1, 2021. doi:10.1002/cncr.33740. PMCID: PMC8419065

Reeve, B. B., McFatrich, M., Lin, L., Lucas, N. R., Mack, J. W., Jacobs, S. S., Withycombe, J. S., Baker, J. N., Fryer, D. R., Hinds, P. S. (2021). Validation of the Caregiver Pediatric Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Cancer, 127(9), 1483-1494. Published on-line first December 27, 2020. doi: 10.1002/cncr.33389. PMCID: PMC8734933

Hinds, P. S., Weaver, M. S., Withycombe, J. S., Baker, J. N., Jacobs, S. S., Mack, J. W., Maurer, S., McFatrich, M., Pinheiro, L. C., Reeve, B. B., Wang, J. (2020). Subjective toxicity profiles of children in treatment for cancer: A new guide to supportive care? Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, Published on-line first October 20, 2020. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.10.017. PMCID: PMC8055722

Withycombe, J.S., Carlson, A., Coleman, C., Leslie, S., Skeens, M., Tseitlin, H. Duffy, E. (2021). Commonly reported adverse events associated with pediatric immunotherapy: A Systematic Review from the Children’s Oncology Group. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 38(1), 16-25. Published on-line first October 28, 2020. doi:10.1177/1043454220966590. PMCID: PMC8822201

Reeve, B.B., McFatrich, M., Mack, J. W., Maurer, S. H., Jacobs, S. S., Freyer, D. R., Withycombe, J. S., Baker, J. N., Castellino, S. N., Lin, L., Lucas, N. R., Hinds, P. S. (2020). Validity and Reliability of the Pediatric Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Measurement System. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Published online first. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djaa016

Reeve, B.B., McFatrich, M., Mack, J.W., Pinheiro, L. C., Jacobs, S. S., Baker, J. N., Withycombe, J. S., Lin, L., Mann, C., Villabroza, K. R., Hinds, P. S. (2020). Expanding construct validity of established and new PROMIS pediatric measures for children and adolescents receiving cancer treatment. Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 67(4), e28160. doi: 10.1002/pbc.28160

Mandrell, B., Withycombe, J.S. (2019). Symptom biomarkers for children receiving treatment for cancer: State of the science. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 36(4), 280-286. doi: 10.1177/1043454219859233

Withycombe, J. S., Zupanec, S., Haugen, M., Macpherson, C., Landier, W. (2019). Consensus recommendations from the nursing state of the symptom science symposium: A Children’s Oncology Group report. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 36(4):294-299. doi: 10.1177/1043454219854983

Withycombe, J.S., McFatrich, M., Pinheiro, L., Hinds, P. S., Keller, F. G., Baker, J. N., Mack, J W., Sung, L., Waldron, M., Reeve, B. B. (2019). The association of age, literacy and race on completing patient-reported outcome measures in pediatric oncology. Quality of Life Research, 28(7), 1793-1801. doi: 10.1007/s11136-019-02109-9

Withycombe, J. S., Alonzo, T. A., Wilkins-Sanchez, M. A., Adamson, P. C., Landier, W. (2019). The Children’s Oncology Group: Organizational structure, membership and institutional characteristics. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 36(1), 24-34. doi: 10.1177/1043454218810141

Kelly, K.P., Withycombe, J., Stegenga, K., Rodgers, C.C. (2018). The why behind the questions: Question-asking in parents of children newly diagnosed with cancer - A report from the Children's Oncology Group. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 43, 23-38. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2018.07.002

Withycombe, J. S., Baek, M. J., Jordan, D., Thomas, N., Hale, S. (2018). Pilot study evaluating physical activity and fatigue in adolescent oncology patients and survivors during summer camp. Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, 7(2), 254-257. doi: 10.1089/jayao.2017.0074

Fernandez, C. V., Mullen, E., Chi, Y. Y., Ehrlich, P. F., Perlman, E. J., Kalapurakal, J., Khanna, G., Paulino, A. C., Hamilton, T. E., Gow, K. W., Tochner, Z., Hoffer, F., Withycombe, J., Shamberger, R. C., Kim, Y., Geller, J. I., Anderson, J. R., Grundy, P. E., Dome, J. S. (2018). Outcome and prognostic factors in stage III favorable histology Wilms Tumor (FHWT). A report from the Children’s Oncology Group study AREN0532. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 36(3), 254-261.

Pinheiro, L. C., McFatrich, M., Lucas, N. R., Walker, J. S., Withycombe, J. S., Hinds, P. S., Sung, L., Tomlinson, D., Freyer, D. R., Mack, J. W., Baker, J. N., Reeve, B. B. (2018). Child and Adolescent Self-Report Symptom Measurement in Pediatric Oncology Research: A Systematic Literature Review. Quality of Life Research, 27(2), 291-319.

Reeve, B.B., McFatrich, M., Pinheiro, L.C., Freyer, D.R., Basch, E.M., Baker, J.N., Withycombe, J.S., Sung, L., Mack, J.W., Waldron, M.K., Mowbray, C., Palma, D., Hinds. P.S. (2017).Cognitive interview-based validation of the Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) in adolescents with cancer. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.11.006.

Stevens, K. R., Engh, E. P., Cooley, H. T., Conley, D. M., Cupit, T., D’Errico, E., DiNapoli, P., Fischer, J. L., Freed, R., Kotzer, A. M., Lindgren, C. L., Marino, M. A., Mestas, L, Perdue, J., Powers, R., Radovich, P., Rice, K., Riley, L. P., Rosenfeld, P., Roussel, L., Ryan-Wenger, N. A., Searle-Leach, L., Shonka, N. M., Smith, V. L., Sweatt, L., Townsend-Gervis, M., Wathen, E., Withycombe, J.S. (2017). Operational failures in frontline nursing. Research in Nursing & Health, 40, 197-205. doi: 10.1002/nur.21791

Reeve, B.B. , McFatrich, M., Pinheiro, L. C., Weaver, M. S., Sung, L., Withycombe, J. S., Baker, J. B., Mack, J., Waldron, M. K., Gibson, D., Tomlinson, D., Freyer, D., Mowbray, C., Jacobs, S., Palma, D., Martens, C., Gold, S., Jackson, K. D., Hinds, P. S. (2017). Eliciting the child’s voice in adverse event reporting in oncology trials: cognitive interview findings from the Pediatric Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events initiative. Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 64(3). doi: 10.1002/pbc.26261. PMCID: 5301979

Rodgers, C., Kristen, S., Withycombe, J. S., Sachse, K., Kelly, K. P. (2016). Processing information after a child’s cancer diagnosis – How parents learn: A report from the Children’s Oncology Group. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 33(6), 447-459. doi: 10.1177/1043454216668825

Landier, W., Ahern, J., Barakat, L.P., Bhatia, S., Bingen, K. M., Bondurant, P. G., Cohn, S. L, Dobrozsi, S. K., Haugen, M., Herring, R. A., Hooke, M., C., Martin, M., Murphy, K., Newman, A. R., Rodgers, C. C., Ruccione, K. S., Sullivan, J., Weiss, M., Withycombe, J., Hockenberry, M. (2016). Patient/Family education for newly diagnosed pediatric oncology patients: Consensus recommendations from a Children’s Oncology Group expert panel. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 33, 422-431. doi: 10.1177/1043454216655983 PMID: 27385664

Withycombe, J. S., Andam-Mejia, R., Dwyer, A., Slaven, A., Windt, K., & Landier, W. (2016). A comprehensive survey of institutional patient/family educational practices for newly diagnosed pediatric oncology patients: A report from the Children’s Oncology Group. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 33(6), 414-421. doi: 10.1177/1043454216652857

Hooke, M. C., Gilchrist, L., Tanner, L., Hart, N., & Withycombe, J. S. (2016). Use of a fitness tracker to promote physical activity in children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 63, 684-689. doi:10.1002/pbc.25860

Weaver, M., Reeve B. B., Baker, J., Martens, C., McFatrich, M., Mowbray, C., Palma, D., Sung, L., Tomlinson, D., Withycombe, J., & Hinds, P. S. (2016). Concept elicitation phase for the pediatric Patient-Reported Outcome Version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) measure development. Cancer, 122(1), 141-148. doi:10.1002/cncr.29702. PMCID: 47071

Honors and Awards

2025 University Research, Scholarship and Artistic Achievement Award

2023 National Institutes of Health Accelerator Program, Clemson University

2023 Publication of the Year Award for the College of Behavioral, Social and Health
Sciences.

2023 Cancer Nursing’s Annual Research Award (for published journal article)

2022 South Carolina Palmetto Gold Award

2021 Inducted into the Fellowship of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN)

2018 Early Career Researcher Award, Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurses

2018 Transdisciplinary Training in Energetics and Cancer (TREC) National Cancer Institute Fellow

2017 March of Dimes’ Pediatric Nurse of the Year for Georgia

2017 “High Five Faculty” Award (Excellence in Teaching based on Student Evaluations)

2017 Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing Excellence in Collaboration Award

2016 Children’s Oncology Group, Nursing Discipline Merit Award

Links