Why is the liver so regenerative?
The gist
The liver regrows to full size and function in a few months after half is donated.
That same regrowth machinery is what colorectal cancer hijacks to spread there.
How it unfolded
- date unknownA speculative essay asked why the human body is so poor except for the liver, noting the liver usually heals without scars, maintains near full strength with age, and regrows to full size and function in a few months after half is given to someone else.
- Sep 22, 2026HepaRegeniX announced the first patient undergoing major liver resection for colorectal cancer liver metastases completed 28 days of treatment with darizmetinib in the second pilot part of its Phase 1b/2a study; the second Phase 1b part is expected to enroll 10 patients and finish in Q4 2026.
- Sep 24, 2026MIT researchers published findings in Science identifying a YAP1-driven regenerative program that helps colorectal cancer cells spread to the liver, with ceramides activating the program through YAP1.