A 41-year-old Los Angeles woman, initially seeking treatment for dehydration, has achieved remission from stage 4 colorectal cancer following a rare liver transplant facilitated by a close family friend. Amy Piccioli’s case highlights the potential of liver transplantation as a treatment option for patients with advanced colorectal cancer that has metastasized to the liver.
Piccioli’s ordeal began in May 2024, when she visited the emergency room for dehydration stemming from a stomach bug. Subsequent scans revealed a mass in her colon and multiple lesions on her liver. A biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of stage 4 colorectal cancer. “I had zero signs of colorectal cancer. No pain, no changes in bowel habits and no family history,” Piccioli told Northwestern Medicine. “When a doctor tells you it’s stage 4, you think, ‘My life is over.’ Learning that a transplant could be an option for me changed everything.”
Following her diagnosis, Piccioli underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. She then sought a specialized evaluation for a potential liver transplant. Northwestern Medicine, one of the few institutions in the United States offering liver transplantation for colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases, became a focal point in her care.
Dr. Zachary Dietch, a transplant surgeon at Northwestern Medicine, explained the potential benefits of the procedure. “Amy had disease confined to the liver and had responded very well to treatment,” he said. “For patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases, chemotherapy alone historically results in a 10% five‑year survival. But in carefully selected patients who undergo liver transplantation, five‑year survival can reach 60% to 80%, and some patients achieve long-term cure.”
After initiating a search for a living donor, Piccioli received the unexpected news that Lauren Prior, a close family friend, was a match. “It felt like fate,” Piccioli said. “Lauren and her family had already told us we could stay with them in Chicago whereas I recover from the surgery. And then she turned out to be my perfect match. At that point, I had so much faith in my surgical team that I was more scared of a Chicago winter than a liver transplant.”
Prior echoed Piccioli’s sentiment, emphasizing the significance of organ donation. “It’s such a small sacrifice to make that could potentially save someone’s life, or at least improve their quality of life,” Prior told ABC News. “The impact you can have on someone else is incredible, and it’s worth it.”
In December 2025, both women underwent surgery at Northwestern Medicine. A portion of Prior’s liver was successfully transplanted into Piccioli, replacing her diseased organ. Three months later, Piccioli received confirmation that a blood test showed no detectable residual cancer cells, indicating “no evidence of disease.” Prior is too recovering well from the donation procedure.
Piccioli, who remains in Chicago for continued recovery, is now advocating for increased awareness of colorectal cancer, particularly among younger adults. She emphasized the importance of considering transplant options for patients whose cancer has spread to the liver. “If your cancer has spread to your liver, ask your doctor about a transplant. It might be an option you didn’t know existed. That information could save someone’s life. I can’t express how grateful I am for my donor and the Northwestern Medicine transplant team for saving mine,” she stated.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer globally, following lung and breast cancers. While overall rates have decreased in the past decade, diagnoses among individuals under 50 have been increasing by approximately 2% annually, with one in five newly diagnosed patients now under the age of 55, according to the American Cancer Society. The American Cancer Society recommends regular screenings for adults 45 and older, and prompt medical evaluation for any symptoms such as changes in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, dark stools, unexplained weight loss, cramping, or excessive fatigue.
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