New device discovered by scientists to measure changing size of tumors below skin

In practical terms, the researchers say, their device--dubbed FAST for "Flexible Autonomous Sensor measuring Tumors"--represents a wholly new, fast, inexpensive, hands-free, and accurate way to test the efficacy of cancer drugs. On a grander scale, it could lead to promising new directions in cancer treatment.

Each year researchers test thousands of potential cancer drugs on mice with subcutaneous tumors. Few make it to human patients, and the process of finding new therapies is slow because technologies for measuring tumour regression from drug treatment take weeks to read out a response. The inherent biological variation of tumors, the shortcomings of existing measuring approaches, and the relatively small sample sizes make drug screenings difficult and labour-intensive.

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