3D lab model of tiny colorectal cancer spots in the liver to test post-surgery chemotherapy
Official title: 3D Engineered Model of Microscopic Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis for Adjuvant Chemotherapy Screens
Funded at Texas Engineering Experiment Station · NIH-11242012 · Data updated 2026-11-12
The project creates 3D liver models with tiny colorectal cancer metastases to test which chemotherapy drugs might help prevent recurrence after surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Engineering Experiment Station NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $307,318 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA269224-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11242012 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver, especially those having surgery or able to donate tumor tissue for research, are the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without colorectal liver metastases or those seeking immediate changes to their clinical care are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this lab-focused project.
What this research studies
You should know researchers are building 3D liver scaffolds from decellularized pig liver material to reproduce the liver’s structure and extracellular matrix. They will seed these scaffolds with tiny tumor clusters grown from patient-derived colorectal liver metastasis cells so the lab pieces resemble the microscopic nodules that can remain after surgery. Using optical imaging and medium- to high-throughput drug screening, they will test which adjuvant chemotherapy drugs can clear these tiny tumors and compare results with real patient responses. The aim is a reliable lab model that better reflects human microscopic metastases than current spheroid or animal models, to help find therapies that reduce recurrence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help identify chemotherapy options that eliminate microscopic liver metastases and lower the chance of cancer coming back after surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Existing models like spheroids and patient-derived xenografts are commonly used but often lack liver architecture, and this engineered 3D scaffold approach is relatively new and designed to improve predictive accuracy.
Where this research is happening
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Texas Engineering Experiment Station
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Raghavan, Shreya a. — Texas Engineering Experiment Station
- Study coordinator: Raghavan, Shreya a.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Creating a 3D model to test treatments for colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver
This study is creating a special 3D model of the liver to help find better treatments for colorectal cancer that has spread there, using real patient cells to test different chemotherapy options that could target hidden cancer cells.
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CHD1Li-enhanced Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer
A new treatment approach combines standard chemotherapy with CHD1L inhibitors to help people with colorectal cancer respond better to therapy.
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Understanding how chemotherapy affects breast cancer spread and liver immunity
A research project looks at how standard breast cancer chemotherapy may change the immune system and cancer spread, especially to the liver, in people with aggressive breast cancer.
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Fibroblasts in brain metastases help cancer grow and hide from treatment
In people with cancer that has spread to the brain, researchers are studying how lung cancer–driven fibroblasts in the brain help cancer cells grow, resist standard therapies, and dampen the immune response.
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How the LIN28B protein affects colorectal cancer cell behavior and spread
Researchers are learning how the LIN28B protein changes cell identity and helps colorectal cancer cells spread, with the goal of helping people with colorectal cancer.
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Finding the tumor cells that start colorectal cancer spread
Researchers will look for the specific tumor cell populations that seed liver metastases in people with colorectal cancer who have surgery.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.