Cynthia A Thomson, PhD, RDN
Interim Associate Director for Population Science
Shared Resource co-Director, Behavioral Measurement and Interventions
Cancer Prevention and Control Program
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Interim Associate Director of Population Sciences
Professor, Public Health
Director, Canyon Ranch Center for Prevention and Health Promotion
Distinguished Professor
Professor, Nutritional Sciences Graduate Program
Professor, Medicine
Professor, BIO5 Institute
Professor, Health Promotion Sciences
Behavioral Measurement and Interventions Shared Resource
Biography
Dr. Cynthia Thomson, PhD, RDN leads a multidisciplinary research program in cancer prevention research focusing on lifestyle behaviors, cancer prevention and survivorship. Her translational research program integrates novel interventions including mobile health technologies and delivery systems, as well as behavioral theory and cancer-relevant biomarker research to advance understanding of optimal health behaviors to improve health after a cancer diagnosis. Her research predominantly focuses on obesity-related cancers (breast, ovarian, colorectal cancer) and includes dissemination and implementation science to expand the impact of her evidence-based research. She has published over 200 cancer-related peer-reviewed manuscripts and books chapters building the evidence for nutrition and physical activity guidelines for cancer prevention and survivorship.
Cancer Focus
Obesity-related cancers, cancer survivorship, healthy lifestyles, novel behavior interventions, dissemination and implementation science.
Selected Publications
Chebet, J. J., C. A. Thomson, L. N. Kohler, J. E. Ehiri, J. Luo, T-Y. David Cheng, K. Pan, R. T. Chlebowski, R. Nassir, S. Sealy-Jefferson, et al., "Association of Diet Quality and Physical Activity on Obesity-Related Cancer Risk and Mortality in Black Women: Results from the Women's Health Initiative.", Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, vol. 29, issue 3, pp. 591-598, 2020 03. PMID: 31915146
Rock, C. L., C. Thomson, T. Gansler, S. M. Gapstur, M. L. McCullough, A. V. Patel, K. S. Andrews, E. V. Bandera, C. K. Spees, K. Robien, et al., "American Cancer Society guideline for diet and physical activity for cancer prevention.", CA Cancer J Clin, vol. 70, issue 4, pp. 245-271, 2020 Jul. PMID: 32515498
Crane, T. E., M. B. Skiba, A. Miller, D. O. Garcia, and C. A. Thomson, "Development and Evaluation of an Accelerometer-Based Protocol for Measuring Physical Activity Levels in Cancer Survivors: Development and Usability Study.", JMIR Mhealth Uhealth, vol. 8, issue 9, pp. e18491, 2020 Sep 24. PMCID: PMC7545325 PMID: 32969828
LoConte, N. K., J. E. Gershenwald, C. A. Thomson, T. E. Crane, G. E. Harmon, and R. Rechis, "Lifestyle Modifications and Policy Implications for Primary and Secondary Cancer Prevention: Diet, Exercise, Sun Safety, and Alcohol Reduction.", Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book, issue 38, pp. 88-100, 2018 May 23. PMID: 30231343
Sun, V., T. E. Crane, S. D. Slack, A. Yung, S. Wright, S. Sentovich, K. Melstrom, M. Fakih, R. S. Krouse, and C. A. Thomson, "Rationale, development, and design of the Altering Intake, Managing Symptoms (AIMS) dietary intervention for bowel dysfunction in rectal cancer survivors.", Contemp Clin Trials, vol. 68, pp. 61-66, 2018 May. PMCID: PMC5899669 PMID: 29567283
Thomson, C. A., T. E. Crane, D. O. Garcia, B. C. Wertheim, M. Hingle, L. Snetselaar, M. Datta, T. Rohan, E. LeBlanc, R. T. Chlebowski, et al., "Association between Dietary Energy Density and Obesity-Associated Cancer: Results from the Women's Health Initiative.", J Acad Nutr Diet, vol. 118, issue 4, pp. 617-626, 2018 Apr. PMCID: PMC5803487 PMID: 28826845
Martinez, J. A., B. C. Wertheim, C. A. Thomson, J. W. Bea, R. Wallace, M. Allison, L. Snetselaar, Z. Chen, R. Nassir, and P. A. Thompson, "Physical Activity Modifies the Association between Dietary Protein and Lean Mass of Postmenopausal Women.", J Acad Nutr Diet, vol. 117, issue 2, pp. 192-203.e1, 2017 02. PMCID: PMC5276713 PMID: 27914915
Thomson, C. A., H. H. Sherry Chow, B. C. Wertheim, D. J. Roe, A. Stopeck, G. Maskarinec, M. Altbach, P. Chalasani, C. Huang, M. B. Strom, et al., "A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of diindolylmethane for breast cancer biomarker modulation in patients taking tamoxifen.", Breast Cancer Res Treat, vol. 165, issue 1, pp. 97-107, 2017 Aug. PMCID: PMC5571834 PMID: 28560655
Pinto, B. M., and C. A. Thomson, "Guideposts for Physical Activity, Diet, and Weight Management Interventions Among Cancer Survivors.", Obesity (Silver Spring), vol. 25 Suppl 2, pp. S23-S24, 2017 11. PMCID: PMC5784764 PMID: 29086528
Thomson, C. A., T. E. Crane, A. Miller, D. O. Garcia, K. Basen-Engquist, and D. S. Alberts, "A randomized trial of diet and physical activity in women treated for stage II-IV ovarian cancer: Rationale and design of the Lifestyle Intervention for Ovarian Cancer Enhanced Survival (LIVES): An NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG-225) Study.", Contemp Clin Trials, vol. 49, pp. 181-9, 2016 07. PMCID: PMC5108358 PMID: 27394382
Martinez, J. A., P. Chalasani, C. A. Thomson, D. Roe, M. Altbach, J-P. Galons, A. Stopeck, P. A. Thompson, D. Evelyn Villa-Guillen, and H-H. Sherry Chow, "Phase II study of metformin for reduction of obesity-associated breast cancer risk: a randomized controlled trial protocol.", BMC Cancer, vol. 16, pp. 500, 2016 07 19. PMCID: PMC4950218 PMID: 27430256
Bea, J. W., C. A. Thomson, B. C. Wertheim, S. J Nicholas, K. C. Ernst, C. Hu, R. D. Jackson, J. A. Cauley, C. E. Lewis, B. Caan, et al., "Risk of Mortality According to Body Mass Index and Body Composition Among Postmenopausal Women.", Am J Epidemiol, vol. 182, issue 7, pp. 585-96, 2015 Oct 01. PMCID: PMC4715226 PMID: 26350478