Terri S. Armstrong, Ph.D., ANP-BC, FAAN, FAANP

Terri S. Armstrong, Ph.D., ANP-BC, FAAN, FAANP
Deputy Chief
Neuro-Oncology Branch
Senior Investigator

Terri S. Armstrong is a Senior Investigator in the Neuro-Oncology Branch (NOB), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Her program of research focuses on clinical outcomes assessment in clinical trials, exploring the biologic basis of symptoms and toxicity and developing prediction modeling and biologically based interventions for symptom management.

Areas of Expertise

1) clinical outcomes assessment, 2) symptom assessment and management,
3) instrument development and validation, 4) prediction modeling

Contact Info

Terri S. Armstrong, Ph.D., ANP-BC, FAAN, FAANP
Center for Cancer Research
National Cancer Institute
Building 82, Room 201
Bethesda, MD 20892
Ph: 240-760-6003
Fax: 240-541-4432
Terri.Armstrong@nih.gov
Get Vcard
Permalink

My program of research has focused on these three interlocking areas of research: development of measures and approaches to accurately assess symptom burden and the impact of the disease and therapy on patient outcomes; exploration of the clinical and genomic predictors of risk of symptoms and toxicity; and exploration of the underlying pathophysiology with the overarching goal of developing approaches to care and symptom management that impact outcomes. These efforts have included the development, psychometric evaluation and assessment of the utility of instruments, and use of patient reported outcomes in multicenter clinical trials. In addition, I have led multi-disciplinary teams who are evaluating both clinical and genomic predictors of toxicity and biologic underpinnings of critical symptoms with the goal to improve symptom management and patient outcomes.

 

NIH Scientific Focus Areas:
Cancer Biology, Clinical Research, Genetics and Genomics, Health Disparities, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Selected Key Publications

  1. Net clinical benefit analysis of radiation therapy oncology group 0525: a phase III trial comparing conventional adjuvant temozolomide with dose-intensive temozolomide in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.
    Armstrong TS, Wefel JS, Wang M, Gilbert MR, Won M, Bottomley A, Mendoza TR, Coens C, Werner-Wasik M, Brachman DG, Choucair AK, and Mehta M.
    J Clin Oncol. 31(32): 4076-4084, 2013. [ Journal Article ]
  2. A randomized trial of bevacizumab for newly diagnosed glioblastoma.
    Gilbert MR, Dignam JJ, Armstrong TS, Wefel JS, Blumenthal DT, Vogelbaum MA, Colman H, Chakravarti A, Pugh S, Won M, Jeraj R, Brown PD, Jaeckle KA, Schiff D, Stieber VW, Brachman DG, Werner-Wasik M, Tremont-Lukats IW, Sulman EP, Aldape KD, Curran WJ Jr, and Mehta MP.
    N Engl J Med. 370(8): 699-708, 2014.
  3. Risk analysis of severe myelotoxicity with temozolomide: the effects of clinical and genetic factors.
    Armstrong TS, Cao Y, Scheurer ME, Vera-Bolaños E, Manning R, Okcu MF, Bondy M, Zhou R, and Gilbert MR.
    Neuro Oncol. 11(6): 825-832, 2009. [ Journal Article ]
  4. The impact of symptom interference using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Brain Tumor Module (MDASI-BT) on prediction of recurrence in primary brain tumor patients.
    Armstrong TS, Vera-Bolanos E, Gning I, Acquaye A, Gilbert MR, Cleeland C, and Mendoza T.
    Cancer. 117(14): 3222-3228, 2011. [ Journal Article ]
  5. The symptom burden of primary brain tumors: evidence for a core set of tumor- and treatment-related symptoms.
    Armstrong TS, Vera-Bolanos E, Acquaye AA, Gilbert MR, and Mendoza T.
    Neuro Oncol. 18(2): 252-260, 2016. [ Journal Article ]

Dr. Armstrong obtained her master's in oncology from The Ohio State University and her Ph.D. from the University of Texas Health Science Center. She has worked iin the field of neuro-oncology since 1992, and has held faculty positions at Emory University, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Nursing, where she held the school’s prestigious Dunn Distinguished Professorship in Oncology Nursing. She has maintained a clinical practice in neuro-oncology as well as research faculty positions with a focus on clinical outcomes assessment and exploring clinical and biologic predictors of toxicity and symptoms. She has received numerous research grants from philanthropy, professional associations, and was awarded an NIH R01 grant developing prediction models of toxicity. She has published 100 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and over 15 book chapters on the care of patients with central nervous system tumors in addition to presenting on a regional, national and international level. She is currently Vice President of the Society for Neuro-Oncology and Quality of Life representative and chair on several studies in cooperative groups including Alliance Oncology and the NRG Oncology Research Group.

Name Position
Alvina Acquaye M.S. Senior Research Associate (Contr)
Madeline E. Dahut Postbaccalaureate Fellow (CRTA)
Maria Del Mar Fletcher Ruiz Postbaccalaureate Fellow (CRTA)
Caitlin Figiel Technician
Nicole M. Leggiero Special Volunteer
Karra K. Manier Special Volunteer
Dorela Shuboni-Mulligan Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow (CRTA)
Elizabeth Vera M.S. Senior Research Associate (Contr)