College of Nursing

Quick Links

Research

Cecile Lengacher

Complementary and Integrative Therapies for Cancer Survivors and Caregivers

About Us

Dr. Lengacher and her team are dedicated to the following research priorities:

  1. Design and testing of complementary integrative health interventions on selected psychological, physical, and cognitive symptoms, and quality of life, to improve the quality of life among cancer survivors and caregivers.
  2. Determine the psychological, and physiological stress bio-behavioral (immune, cardiac, genetic) mechanisms of action related to complementary-integrative health interventions, a psycho-neuroimmunology approach.  
  3. Determine the beneficial economic cost of care effects of complementary-integrative health interventions.
  4. Transforming the delivery of complementary integrative health interventions to mobile web-based formats to decrease cultural barriers of participation by cancer caregivers and survivors, facilitating translation into practice.   

Team Collaboration Priorities    

The above priorities are implemented through our team’s major goal of building collaborative, diverse translational research teams across cultures and disciplines while providing leadership and mentorship for current and future research among professionals, faculty, students, and interns.   

Cecile Lengacher

Cecile A. Lengacher, RN, PhD, FAAN, FAPOS

Dr. Lengacher is a professor at the University of South Florida College of Nursing and holds the Lyall and Beatrice Thompson Nursing Professorship in Oncology. Dr. Lengacher also serves as faculty for the Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Health Outcomes, and Behavioral Program, Breast Cancer Clinical Program, and Population Sciences Division. She is an internationally recognized nurse scientist, with expertise in bio-behavioral clinical trial intervention research including psycho-oncology, psychoneuroimmunology, and complementary alternative medicine (CAM). Her work has advanced the science in complementary alternative medicine, primarily by testing the link between CAM therapies and physiological, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes for cancer survivors and caregivers. This advancement of science in CAM therapies led to the advancement of symptom science through the examination of symptoms and their relationship to biological mechanisms of action on natural killer cells, stress hormones, cytokines, telomeres, and genes. Examination of these mechanisms of action have had a high scientific international influence. Dr. Lengacher’s current work is centered on health equity by designing web-based CAM therapy interventions tailored for advanced-stage Black and Hispanic breast cancer survivors and caregivers of advanced-stage survivors. Her current work focuses on the examination of the unique biological effects of CAM therapies to assist with complex symptoms of cancer survivors, particularly genetics as moderators of effects, and the effects of chemotherapy on cardiac outcomes, thus advancing science in precision medicine. Dr. Lengacher is nationally honored, as a Fellow of the American Psychosocial Oncology Society and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, as well as an appointment to several NIH national and international grant review and journal review panels.

Team Members and Affiliations

Hongdao Meng, MD, PhD, MPH – Associate Professor- University of South Florida College of Aging Studies
Richard Reich, MA, PhD - Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource Manager, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
Carmen Rodriguez, MSN, PhD, ARNP - Associate Professor – University of South Florida College of Nursing
Kevin Kip, PhD, FAAAS, FAHA - Vice President of Clinical Analytics - UPMC Health Services Division
Jong Park, MPH, PhD – Senior Member – Department of Cancer Epidemiology - H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
Jack Drobisz, MS, PhD - Research Faculty - College of Behavioral & Community Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa
Sara Tinsley-Vance, PhD, ARNP, AOCN - Nurse Practitioner and Quality of Life Researcher - H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
Loni Hagen, MA, MAS, PhD - Associate Professor – University of South Florida College of Arts and Sciences
Tamela Fonseca, MSN, RN, CCRC, NE-BC - Sarasota Memorial Clinical Researcher - Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Katie West, MSN, RN, CEN - Research Development Program Coordinator - Sarasota Memorial Health Care System

Join Our Team

If you would like to join our Research team, send a CV and cover letter outlining your experience and research interests to cecilel@usf.edu.

  • Virtual MBSR(C) Program for Caregivers of Advanced Stage Cancer Patients

    Our long-term goal is to establish the effectiveness of the virtual vMBSR(C) program designed for caregivers of advanced stage cancer patients, for improvement in their health.

    Feasibility Testing of a Virtual MBSR(C) and ASCE Program among Caregivers of Advanced Stage Cancer Survivors

    I.D. #: PAR-22-173 (R34)
    Agency: NCCIH
    MPI: Cecile A. Lengacher, Carmen S. Rodriguez

    Virtual MBSR(BC) Program and a Virtual BCES Program among Black and Hispanic Advanced Stage Breast Cancer Survivors

    Our long-term goal is to establish the effectiveness of the virtual vMBSR(BC) program designed for Black and Hispanic Advanced Stage Breast Cancer Survivors” to decrease risk for comorbidities. 

    Cultural Adaptation and Feasibility Testing of a Virtual MBSR(BC) Program and a Virtual BCES Program among Black and Hispanic Advanced Stage Breast Cancer Survivors

    I.D.#: PAR-20-240 (R34)
    Agency: NCI
    MPI: Cecile A. Lengacher, Carmen S. Rodriguez

  • R01 MBSR(BC) Treatment on Cognitive Impairment among Breast Cancer Survivors
    Our goal was to establish the effectiveness of the MBSR(BC) program compared to the BCES program, attention control group to improve cognitive functioning among chemo-brain breast cancer survivors.

    “The Efficacy of MBSR(BC) Treatment on Cognitive Impairment among Breast Cancer Survivors”

    I.D.#: RO1 CA199160-01
    Agency: NIH/NCI
    Project period: 07/01/2015 – June 30th, 2022
    Role PI: Cecile A. Lengacher

  • Selected list of publications. For a full list of current publications, please see CV and Faculty Directory.

    Park, J., Lengacher, C.A., Reich, R., Park, H., Whiting, J., Nguyen, A., Rodriguez, C.S., Meng, H., Tinsley, S., Chauca, K., Gordillo-Casero, L., Wittenberg, T., Joshi, A., Lin, K., Ismail-Khan, R., Kiluk. J.V. and Kip, K.  (2022). Translational Genomic Research: The Association between Genetic Profiles and Cognitive Functioning or Cardiac Function Among Breast Cancer Survivors Completing Chemotherapy (2022). Biological Research For Nursing Vol. 0(0) 1–15, DOI: 10.1177/10998004221094386 https://doi.org/10.1177/1099800422109

    Lin, J. K., Lengacher, C., Rodriguez, C., Szalacha, L., & Wolgemuth, J. (2021) Chemotherapy Related Cognitive Dysfunction in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review. Journal of Cancer Treatment and Research, 9(2): 27-44. http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/jctr. doi: 10.11648/j.jctr.20210902.12 ISSN: 2376-7782 (Print). ISSN: 2376-7790 (Online)

    Lengacher, C.A., Gruss, F.L., Kip K. E., Reich, R.R., Moscoso. M. S., Chauca, K., Joshi, A., Budhrani-Shani, P., Cousin, L., Paterson-Khan, C., Goodman, M., & Park, J, (2021). Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Breast Cancer Survivors (MBSR (BC)): Evaluating Mediators of Psychological and Physical Outcomes in a Large Randomized Controlled Trial. J Behav Med. PMID: 33963420 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-021-00214-0

    Lengacher, C.A., Reich, R.R., Paterson, C.L., Shelton, M., Shivers, S., Ramesar, S., Pleasant, M.L.,

    Budhrani-Shani, P., Groer, M., Post-White, J., Johnson-Mallard, V., Kane, B., Cousin, L., Moscoso, M.S., Romershausen, T.A., & Park, J.Y. (2019). A large, randomized trial: Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for breast cancer (BC) survivors on salivary cortisol and IL-6. Biological Research for Nursing (2019) 21(1) 39-49 DOI: 10.1177/1099800418789777

    Park, J. Y., Lengacher, C.A., Reich, R., Alinat, C., Ramesar, S., Le, A., Paterson, C., Pleasant, M.L., Park, H.Y., Kiluk, J., Han, H., Ismail-Khan, R., & Kip, K.E. (2018-2019). Translational genomic research: The role of genetic polymorphisms in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program for breast cancer survivors (MBSR[BC]).” Translational Behavioral Medicine, iby061. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/iby061PMID: 30137607

    Reich, R.R., Lengacher C.A., Klein, T.W., Newton, C., Shivers, S., Ramesar, S., Alinat, C.B., Paterson, C., Le, A., Park, J.Y., Johnson-Mallard, V., Elias, M., Moscoso, M., Goodman, M., & Kip, K.E. (2017). A randomized controlled trial of the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR[BC]) on levels of inflammatory biomarkers among recovering breast cancer survivors. Biological Research for Nursing, 19(4), 456-464. https://doi.org/10.1177/1099800417707 PMID: 28460534 PMCID: PMC5942506

    Lengacher, C.A., Reich, R.R., Paterson, C.L., Ramesar, S., Park, J.Y., Alinat, C., Johnson-Mallard, V., Moscoso, M., Budhrani-Shani, P., Miladinovic, B., Jacobsen, P.B., Cox, C.E., Goodman, M., & Kip, K.E (2016). Examination of broad symptom improvement resulting from mindfulness-based stress reduction in breast cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 34(24), 2827-2834. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2015.65.7874 PMID: 27247219 PMCID: PMC5012660

    Lengacher, C.A., Kip, K.E., Reich, R.R., Craig, B.M., Mogos, M., Ramesar, S., Paterson, C.L., Farias, J.R., & Pracht, E. (2015). A cost-effective mindfulness stress reduction Program: A randomized control trial for breast cancer survivors. Nursing Economics, 33(4), 210-232. PMID: 26477119 http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84946226382&partnerID=8YFLogxK

     Lengacher C.A., Reich, R.R., Kip, K. E., Paterson, C.L., Park, H.Y. Ramesar, S., Jim, H.S., Alinat, C. & Park, J. (2015). Moderating effects of genetic polymorphisms on improvements in cognitive impairment in breast cancer survivors participating in a 6-week mindfulness-based stress reduction program. Biological Research in Nursing, 17(4), 393-404. https://doi.org/10.1177/1099800415577633  PMID: 25882604

    Lengacher C.A., Reich, R.R., Kip, K.E., Barta, M., Ramesar, S., Paterson, C.L., Moscoso, M.S., Carranza, I., Budhrani, P.H., Kim, S.J., Park, H.Y., Jacobsen, P.B., Schell, M.J., Jim, H.S., Post-White, J., Farias, J.R., & Park, J.Y. (2014).  Influence of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on telomerase activity in women with breast cancer (BC). Biological Research for Nursing, 16(4), 438-447. https://doi.org/10.1177/1099800413519495  PMID: 24486564 PMCID: PMC4559344

    Lengacher, C.A., Kip, K.E., Barta, M., Post-White, J., Jacobsen, P.B., Groer, M., Lehman, B., Moscoso, M.S., Kadel, R., Le, N., Loftus, L., Stevens, C.A., Malafa, M.P., & Shelton, M.M. (2012). A pilot study evaluating the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction on psychological status, physical status, salivary cortisol and interleukin-6 among advanced-stage cancer patients and their caregivers. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 30(3), 170-185. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010111435949 PMID: 22442202

    Refereed Current Abstracts

    Selected list of current refereed abstracts. For a full list of abstracts, please see CV and Faculty Directory.

    Lengacher, C. A., Tofthagen, C., Reich, R. R., Rodriguez C. S., Tinsley, S., Meng, H., Kip, K. E., Lin, K., Cadenas, J., Megan, A., Joshi, A., Baier, C. E., Wang, J., Lucas, J., Fonseca, T., Nidamanur, S., Allen, A. P., Pomatto, M., Surdovel, A., Park, J. Y. Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Breast Cancer program compared to a Breast Cancer-Education Support program or Usual Care for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Improvement Among Breast Cancer Survivors. Psycho-Oncology. 2023;32(S1):60 https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.6090

    Lengacher, C. A., Reich, R. R., Rodriguez, C. S., Meng, H., Tinsley, S., Tofthagen, C., Lucas, J., Fonseca, T., Borstein, E., Lin, K., Hueluer, G., Chauca, K., Wang, J., Acosta, M., Joshi, A., Allen, A. P., Baier, C. E., Nidamanur, S., Park, J. Y. High-Resolution Symptom Assessment Among Breast Cancer Survivors (BCS) Enrolled in a Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction for Breast Cancer MBSR(BC) Program. Psycho-Oncology. 2023;32(S1):60 https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.6090

    Lengacher, C. A., Reich, R. R., Rodriguez, C. S., Drobisz, J., Hagen, L., Meng, H., Tinsley, S., Chauca, K., Lucas, J., Fonseca, T., Acosta, M., Baier, C., Joshi, A., Nidamanur, S., Pomatto, M., Surdovel, A., Allen, A. P., Kelly, T., Akinola, B., Park, J.Y. Evaluation of a Virtual Breast Cancer Education Support Program for Advanced Stage Breast Cancer Survivors (vBCES(BC)) for Black and Hispanic Breast Cancer Survivors. Psycho-Oncology. 2023;32(S1):85 https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.6090  [doi.org]

    Lengacher, C. A., Reich, R. R., Rodriguez, C. S., Drobisz, J., Hagen, L., Meng, H., Tinsley, S., Chauca, K., Lucas, J., Fonseca, T., Acosta, M., Baier, C. E., Joshi, A., Nidamanur, S., Pomatto, M., Surdovel, A., Allen, A. P., Kelly, T., Akinola, B. Park, J. Y. Evaluation of a Virtual Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction Program for Advanced Stage Breast Cancer Survivors (vMBSR(BC)) Adapted for Black and Hispanic BCS. Psycho-Oncology. 2023;32(S1):84-85 https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.6090

    Lengacher, C., Rodriguez, C., Reich, R., Meng, H., Joshi, A., Baier, C., Nguyen, A.T., Basha, N., Torres, A., Acosta, M., Tinsley, S., Lin, K., Morgan, S., Cox, C., Greenberg, H., Ismail-Khan, R., Park, J. Moderating Effects on Cognitive Improvement Due to a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Breast Cancer Survivors MBSR(BC). Psycho-Oncology. 2022;31(S1): 89. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.5872                  

    Lengacher, C.A., Rodriguez, C., Reich, R., Nguyen, A.T., Kip, K., Joshi, A., Chauca, K., Park, J., Meng, H., Moscoso, M., Goodman, M., Baier, C., Lin, K., Wittenberg, T., Torres, A., Tinsley, S., Lucas, J., Bornstein, E., Fonseca, T., Basha, N. Comparison of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Breast Cancer Survivors, MBSR(BC), Breast Cancer Education Support Program or Usual Care on Chemotherapy-Related Cognitive Functioning. Psycho-Oncology. 2022;31(S1): 89-90 https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.5872

    Lengacher, C.A., Hueluer, G., Reich, R., Rodriguez, C., Kip, K., Nguyen, A.T., Moscoso, M., Meng, H., Park, J., Chauca, K., Joshi, A., Wittenberg, T., Baier, C., Torres, A., Denman, A.,     Acosta, M., Fonesca, T., Lucas, J., Bornstein, E., Bonamer, J. Evaluating Mediators of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR (BC)) Program on Cognitive Functioning and Symptom Response Among Breast Cancer Survivors (BCS). Psycho-Oncology. 2022;31(S1): 92. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.5872

  • Cecile A. Lengacher, RN, PhD, FAAN, FAPOS
    Professor and Lyall and Beatrice Thompson Nursing Professorship in Oncology
    USF Health College of Nursing
    12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC 22 | Tampa, FL | 33612
    Office: 813-974-9147 | cecilel@usf.edu | health.usf.edu/nursing