Engineered liver scaffolds reveal how colorectal cancer hides and goes dormant
Medical Xpress
February 26, 2026
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Engineered liver scaffolds have provided new insights into how colorectal cancer hides and becomes dormant, offering potential breakthroughs in treating colorectal liver metastases (CRLM), a form of cancer with a particularly deadly reputation. CRLM, which occurs when colon or rectal cancer spreads to the liver, is notoriously difficult to treat due to its widespread nature. Standard treatments like chemotherapy and surgical resection often fail to achieve long-term success, with 75% of patients experiencing recurrence within two years, leading to poor survival outcomes.
Recent research using these scaffolds has revealed unique microenvironments in the liver that allow cancer cells to evade treatment and enter a dormant state. These "sanctuaries" enable cancer cells to survive conventional therapies and later reactivate, causing relapse. By mimicking the liver's structure and function, scientists have gained unprecedented visibility into how cancer cells adapt and persist, even when chemotherapy or other treatments appear effective in the short term.
The study highlights the importance of targeting these dormant niches to improve treatment efficacy. Understanding how cancer cells hide and remain inactive could lead to new strategies for preventing recurrence and ultimately improving survival rates. This research underscores the potential of using engineered liver scaffolds as a tool for studying cancer biology and testing innovative therapies in a controlled, lab-based environment.
For patients with CRLM, this breakthrough could pave the way for more effective treatments that address not just the active cancer cells but also the hidden reservoirs that contribute to relapse. By uncovering the mechanisms behind cancer dormancy, researchers may develop targeted therapies that disrupt these protective environments and achieve longer-term remission.
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Originally published on Medical Xpress on 2/26/2026