McArdle graduate student and former Cancer Biology T32 trainee Carstyn Joiner has been awarded a Kirschstein-NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship (F31) from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The F31 fellowship is designed to support specialized training for promising graduate students and build on their potential to become productive, independent research scientists. Carstyn, who joined the Cancer Biology Graduate Program in 2022, is carrying out her dissertation research on metastatic breast cancer in the laboratory of Dr. Wei Xu.

Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer accounts for over 70% of all breast cancers. Despite standard treatments with endocrine therapy and CDK4/6 inhibitors, metastasis and therapeutic resistance remain major clinical challenges, with metastatic ER+ breast cancer patients facing a five-year survival rate of only 27%. There is a lack of preclinical models that replicate human disease, particularly in studying metastasis and therapy resistance. Carstyn has proposed a novel syngeneic rat model of ER+ breast cancer that mimics human metastatic patterns, building on the estrogen-induced mammary tumor in ACI rats originally developed by Emeritus Professor James Shull, reflecting the continuing legacy of McArdle research. The goal is to define molecular mechanisms by which FGFR1/2 drive liver metastasis and treatment resistance in ER+ breast cancer, informing rational combination therapies targeting FGFR-driven disease and potentially uncovering actionable vulnerabilities for this high-risk patient population.

Dr. Xu says this F31 Fellowship will help Carstyn advance her research and develop a clear trajectory to becoming an independent scientist. “Carstyn is a highly motivated, intellectually curious, and collaborative scientist who is committed to clinically relevant discovery. Building the right model system is essential to understanding the biological mechanisms driving estrogen-induced cancer, and Carstyn’s work shows how such a model can then be used to explore new therapeutics. Her F31 research will help her to master both the conceptual foundations and technical complexities of translational cancer biology and positions her to make significant contributions to the field.”

Carstyn’s passion for and dedication to translational cancer research stems in part from a close personal experience with cancer. Witnessing the profound impact that biomedical research and advances in treatment can have on a patient’s journey inspired her to pursue a career dedicated to improving outcomes for others. “Seeing firsthand how decades of scientific discovery translated into life-changing treatment reinforced my belief in the power of research to improve patient outcomes. That experience inspired my commitment to translational cancer research and continues to drive my work toward developing therapies that can make a meaningful difference for patients.”

In the future, Carstyn hopes to lead a collaborative, mentorship-driven cancer research lab that improves outcomes for patients with treatment-resistant disease. “The F31 fellowship represents a critical step in my development as a translational cancer researcher.”