Liver metastases are formed from cancer cells that have originated in other organs and migrated to the liver via the bloodstream. Colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon/rectum) can be successfully treated by surgical resection of the metastases in combination with chemotherapy. Now a research team has identified a new biomarker that allows better prediction of survival following surgical removal of the metastases, as well as a change in the clinical significance of the biomarker following chemotherapy.