One young researcher’s mission could change how we treat uterine cancer forever.
Over the past forty years, medical advances have dramatically reduced death rates for most cancers. But here’s the startling exception most people don’t talk about — uterine cancer. Now the fourth most common cancer among women in the United States, it has surpassed ovarian cancer as the deadliest gynecological malignancy. And that troubling rise is what fuels University of Iowa PhD candidate Katie Colling’s drive to make a difference.
Colling, a fourth-year doctoral student in cancer biology, spends her days in the Thiel Lab pursuing a bold goal: improving hormone-based therapies to combat uterine cancer more safely and effectively. Her groundbreaking work recently earned her top honors as the 2025 winner of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, where graduate students distill their research into clear, three-minute talks that connect with everyday audiences.
Why uterine cancer can’t be ignored
In her award-winning 3MT presentation, Colling explained that uterine cancer is often treatable when caught early. For many patients, doctors perform a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy — a procedure that removes the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. The success rate is high, but the emotional cost can be devastating for women who still hope to have children. Others may face health risks that make such a major surgery impossible.
That’s where hormone therapy steps in as a promising alternative. Synthetic progesterone-like drugs, known as progestins, can control hormonal balance in the uterus and slow tumor growth. The catch? While initial results often look encouraging, the cancer reappears in 20% to 40% of cases — and sometimes comes back stronger. This vulnerability in current treatments has sparked intense debate in the medical field: are we relying too heavily on therapies that can’t prevent relapse?
Personal motivation behind the science
Colling’s passion for safer cancer therapies is deeply personal. Her grandmother battled breast cancer and lived cancer-free for 15 years before the disease returned with heartbreaking aggression during Colling’s college years.
“It had spread everywhere — to her bones and even her brain,” Colling recalls. Witnessing her grandmother’s struggle opened her eyes to the toxic toll of treatment and inspired her pursuit of more compassionate, effective medical solutions.
Turning hormones into hope
In the lab, Colling explores how to repurpose familiar drugs — the same progestins used in everyday birth control — as targeted therapies for uterine cancer. These compounds vary widely, some derived from progesterone and others from testosterone, creating a scientific puzzle: which formulation works best and why?
So far, Colling’s tests on patient-derived tumor cell cultures have produced promising results. Out of 12 progestins studied, five demonstrated superior performance to current standard treatments — and impressively, their success wasn’t limited to a single patient’s tumor sample.
“This shows tremendous potential for repurposing progestins into fertility-preserving treatments for uterine cancer,” Colling notes. Could the key to saving lives already be sitting in the most common prescription pill?
The power of communication: 3MT and beyond
Colling’s talent isn’t confined to the lab bench. Her natural enthusiasm for public speaking, rooted in years of theatre and speech classes, guided her toward the 3MT competition. She sees it as a chance to connect her scientific passion with a wider audience.
“Most people don’t realize how many women uterine cancer affects or how urgently we need better therapies,” she says. “3MT gave me a way to explain complex science in a way anyone could understand.”
Colling believes communication is one of science’s biggest hurdles. When researchers rely on complicated jargon, crucial discoveries can get lost in translation. “If we can’t make our work understandable,” she says, “then people can’t benefit from it.”
Winning both the People’s Choice and overall 3MT awards was an unexpected triumph for her. “Everyone’s research was incredible — it truly could have gone to anyone,” she reflects.
A supportive community
Originally from Strafford, Missouri, Colling chose the University of Iowa for its strong research reputation and outstanding mentorship. She credits her advisor, Kristi Thiel — assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the Carver College of Medicine — as a driving force in her growth as a scientist.
“She challenges me to think deeply and approach problems creatively,” Colling says. “Having a mentor who inspires me and leads by example has made all the difference.”
2025 3MT Contest Winners
- Overall Winner: Katie Colling – Turning Hormones into Hope for Uterine Cancer
- Humanities & Social Sciences People’s Choice: A. H. M. Mainul Islam – Tracking Bur Oak Blight Across Iowa
- Applied Health & STEM People’s Choice: Katie Colling – Turning Hormones into Hope for Uterine Cancer
- Honorable Mention: Erin Wissler Gerdes – Under Pressure: Characterizing Parental Rage and Its Connection to Anxiety in Modern Parenthood
What do you think about repurposing birth control hormones to treat cancer? Could this become a major step forward in women’s health — or does it raise new ethical and medical dilemmas? Share your thoughts below.
