Mom, 41, with Stage 4 Colon Cancer Has 'No Evidence of Disease' After Life-Saving Transplant

A seemingly ordinary emergency room visit turned into a life-altering diagnosis for Amy Piccioli, leading to a successful liver transplant that offers hope for advanced colorectal cancer patients.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 10:09pm

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Amy Piccioli, a 41-year-old mother of three from Los Angeles, was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer that had spread to her liver after a routine emergency room visit for dehydration. Her journey, aided by a selfless friend and the specialized program at Northwestern Medicine, highlights the growing use of liver transplantation as a viable and potentially curative option for patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Why it matters

Piccioli's case underscores the increasing incidence of colorectal cancer in younger adults, with one in five diagnoses now occurring in individuals under 55. Her successful transplant and 'no evidence of disease' status three months post-procedure offer hope and raise awareness about this evolving treatment pathway, which can significantly improve outcomes for carefully selected patients.

The details

Historically, stage 4 colorectal cancer with liver metastases carried a grim prognosis, with five-year survival rates around 10% with chemotherapy alone. However, advancements in transplant medicine, particularly at centers like Northwestern Medicine, are changing that narrative. Dr. Zachary Dietch, a transplant surgeon at Northwestern, notes that carefully selected patients undergoing liver transplantation can achieve five-year survival rates of 60% to 80%, and even long-term cure. Piccioli's successful transplant was made possible by the extraordinary generosity of her close friend, Lauren Prior, who was a perfect match for living-donor liver transplantation.

  • Piccioli was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer in 2025.
  • Piccioli underwent a successful liver transplant in early 2026.
  • Three months after the transplant, Piccioli had 'no evidence of disease'.

The players

Amy Piccioli

A 41-year-old mother of three from Los Angeles who was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer that had spread to her liver.

Lauren Prior

Piccioli's close friend who was a perfect match and donated a portion of her liver for the transplant.

Dr. Zachary Dietch

A transplant surgeon at Northwestern Medicine who specializes in liver transplants for patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Northwestern Medicine

A healthcare system that has a dedicated liver transplant program specifically for patients with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver.

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What they’re saying

“Carefully selected patients undergoing liver transplantation can achieve five-year survival rates of 60% to 80%, and even long-term cure.”

— Dr. Zachary Dietch, Transplant Surgeon (newsy-today.com)

“The relatively small sacrifice involved in donation can have a profound impact on a recipient's life.”

— Lauren Prior (newsy-today.com)

What’s next

As research continues, we can expect to see further refinements in patient selection criteria, immunosuppression protocols, and surgical techniques. Increased awareness of liver transplantation as a treatment option for advanced colorectal cancer will be vital in ensuring that more patients have access to this potentially life-saving therapy.

The takeaway

Piccioli's successful transplant and 'no evidence of disease' status offer hope and raise awareness about the evolving use of liver transplantation as a viable treatment option for carefully selected patients with advanced colorectal cancer, which can significantly improve outcomes compared to traditional therapies.