German researchers have developed a microchip sensor that can be implanted close to a tumour to monitor its growth.
The device tracks oxygen levels in nearby tissue to find if a tumour is growing.
Results are then transmitted wirelessly send to a patient's doctor - reducing the need for frequent hospital scans.
Future designs will include a medication pump that can deliver drugs directly to the affected area.
Researchers hope this will lead to less aggressive and more efficiently targeted cancer treatments.
Medical engineers at the Technical University in Munich designed device as a way to track and treat tumours that are difficult to reach.
"There are some tumours which are difficult to remove - for example, close to the spine. You run the risk of cutting the nerve if you remove them surgically. Or the problem may be that the tumour is growing slowly, but the patient is elderly," said project manager Sven Becker.
"In these cases it's better to check on tumour, and only treat it if there's a strong growth phase."
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