Bioengineers have created artificial liver environments using decellularized extracellular matrix scaffolds that successfully induce dormancy in colorectal cancer cells. The model combines liver-specific 3D architecture with nutrient restriction and low-dose chemotherapy to trigger cell cycle arrest at G1/S and G2/M checkpoints, reduced proliferation, and enhanced chemotherapy resistance—hallmarks of the dormant state that makes recurrent liver metastases so deadly. This breakthrough addresses a critical gap in cancer research: understanding how microscopic metastatic deposits survive treatment by entering a quiescent state that renders them undetectable by imaging yet primed for eventual reactivation. The engineered dormancy proves reversible, mimicking natural escape mechanisms that lead to overt metastases. For longevity-focused medicine, this model represents a paradigm shift toward precision oncology. Current treatments fail because they target actively dividing cells while dormant cancer persists in metabolically distinct niches. By recreating these protective microenvironments in the lab, researchers can now systematically test interventions that either eliminate dormant cells or prevent their reactivation. This could transform colorectal cancer from a recurring threat into a manageable condition, particularly important given that liver metastases drive mortality in this disease.