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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
07:59
Portal Vein Injection of Colorectal Cancer Organoids to Study the Liver Metastasis Stroma
Published on: September 3, 2021
Microenvironment-Driven Reprogramming in Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis: Metabolic, Phenotypic, and Immune
Xiaoli Mu1, Wenjun Meng2, Lingnan Zheng3
1Health Management Center, General Practice Medical Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Colorectal cancer cells adapt to the liver environment through metabolic changes, plasticity, and immune evasion. Targeting these adaptations offers new therapeutic strategies for liver metastasis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Liver metastasis is a primary cause of mortality in colorectal cancer patients.
- The liver microenvironment significantly influences cancer cell adaptation and survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review how the liver microenvironment reshapes colorectal cancer cells.
- To explore therapeutic strategies targeting liver metastasis vulnerabilities.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on liver metastasis in colorectal cancer.
- Analysis of metabolic, phenotypic, and immunological adaptations of cancer cells.
- Discussion of potential therapeutic interventions.
Main Results:
- Liver microenvironment induces metabolic reprogramming (e.g., altered glucose/lipid utilization) and phenotypic plasticity (e.g., epithelial-mesenchymal transition).
- Cancer cells evade the immune system via PD-L1 upregulation and recruitment of suppressive immune cells.
- Therapeutic opportunities include targeting metabolic dependencies, TGF-β/FAK pathways, and combination immunotherapies.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the liver's influence on cancer cell adaptation is crucial for effective treatment.
- Targeting metabolic, plasticity, and immune evasion mechanisms holds promise for improving outcomes.
- Biomarker-guided stratification and improved preclinical models are needed for successful therapeutic development.
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