Early detection of cancer not only improve survival rates but it could also reduce the intensity of the treatment and cut healthcare costs drastically. Thus developing suitable techniques to detect cancer at an early stage is key.

In response to this challenge, an innovative new warning implant system has been developed to detect four common cancers (lung, prostate, breast and colon). The level of calcium in a person’s blood would constantly be checked and if the calcium levels are too high, it warns the patient about the cancer onset by growing an artificial mole on the person’s skin.

The warning implant system is constructed of a genetic network integrated into human cells and encased in an implantable device, which should be inserted under the skin.

Martin Fussenegger, the lead author of the study, said "Early detection increases the chance of survival significantly; nowadays, people generally go to the doctor only when the tumour begins to cause problems. Unfortunately, by that point, it is often too late."

There is, however, one disadvantage to this technique where the encapsulated living cells used in the device would generally last for only a year, after which they should be replaced. In further developments, it is believed that not only calcium but also other biomarkers could be included to monitor several illnesses such as neurodegenerative diseases and hormonal disorders. Commercialization for the implant is, unfortunately, still a long way off.