Immunotherapy for Cancer in India: Cost, Hospitals & Success Rate
Discover immunotherapy for cancer in India. Know about costs, hospitals, specialists, and the success rate. Learn the types of cancers immunotherapy treats and what it means for oncology.
Let us find the best immunotherapy centre in India for you.
H2: Cost of Immunotherapy for Cancer in India
In India, Immunotherapy starts at USD $1200 and can go up to around $85,000. In the US, the starting range for immunotherapy is USD $15,000[1] and can go up to over $400,000[2] to $700,000[3]
Different kinds of immunotherapies treat cancer depending on the patient's requirements.
Let us look at a chart showing the different types of immunotherapies and their cost comparison in India and the US.
| Type of Immunotherapy | About the Immunotherapy | Cost in India in USD | Cost in the US in USD |
| Non-Specific Immunotherapy | Administering general drugs to increase the immune system | Starts at $1200 | Ranges between $15,000 - $30,000[4] |
| Monoclonal Antibodies | Man-made proteins that are inserted in the body to act like antibodies | Starts at $1500[5] | Over $100,000[6] |
| Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors | Medication to boost the immune system by removing all checkpoints in fighting cancer | $82,000[7] | $250,000[8] |
| T-cell Therapy (CAR T-cell therapy) | Uses a part of a patient’s white blood cells to fight cancer by modifying them in a lab | $50,000 - $85000 | Between $400,000 - $700,000 |
*Prices are subject to change as per case
Read a detailed Overview of different types of immunotherapies and how they treat cancer.
International patients can save upto 80% on costs in India, compared to the US, where costs for immunotherapy are 4 times an average US household annual income.[9]
Overview: What Is Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts the immune system to fight cancer by injecting lab-made substances similar to immune cells.
It can also be delivered alongside other treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
There are different ways to treat cancer using immunotherapy, which can start from Non-specific forms[10] of Immunotherapy where doctors administer drugs to strengthen a body's immune system.
It is not always cancer-specific but can be highly effective in treating cancer.
This can also be done by stimulating the immune system using Cytokines[11]. Cytokines are proteins produced by the immune system that help other immune responses.
The cost of medication and drugs varies depending on the severity of the cancer.
Monoclonal Antibodies: Type of Immunotherapy for Cancer
Monoclonal Antibodies[12] are proteins created in labs that target cancer cells. These antibodies help the immune system fight cancer. When inserted in a patient’s body, these artificial molecules can enhance or mimic the immune system in an attempt to fight cancerous cells.
How Do Monoclonal Antibodies Work?
Monoclonal antibodies work in different ways. Some destroy the cell membrane of cancer cells, and others prevent blood vessel growth in cancer cells, which prevents them from growing. Some monoclonal antibodies alert the immune system to the location of cancer, and some directly attack the deadly cell.
How To Administer Monoclonal Antibodies To Treat Cancer?
Monoclonal antibodies can be injected intravenously or given to patients alongside chemotherapy. The dose of monoclonal antibodies depends on the treatment prescribed by the doctor.
T-Cell Therapy: Type of Immunotherapy for Cancer
T-cell therapy is radically changing how cancer is treated using gene and cell therapy. The treatment uses the power of the patient's T-cells (a part of white blood cells) to attack cancer cells by modifying them in a lab.
T-cell therapy is often used when other forms of cancer treatments do not work.
The latest form of T-cell therapy is CAR T-cell therapy, which has been approved in some countries, including India.
Read CAR T-Cell Therapy in India to learn about this highly advanced treatment.
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Type of Immunotherapy for Cancer
Immune Checkpoint inhibitors[13] are molecules that block proteins which stop the immune system from attacking the cancer cells.
How Do Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Work?
Our immune system (mostly our T-cells) triggers an immune response when there is an infection. But if the T-cells are active for too long, they can start killing healthy cells. That is why checkpoints in the body switch off T-cells.
Cancerous cells, on the other hand, sometimes use this checkpoint to switch off the immune response and hide from it. That is when drugs or checkpoint inhibitors are administered to the patient, which blocks these checkpoints and lets the immune system find and attack the cancer cells.
How To Administer Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor To Treat Cancer?
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors are usually administered intravenously through a drip straight into the bloodstream.
For example, drugs like nivolumab (Opdivo) or pembrolizumab work against the checkpoint protein PD-1 or its partner protein PD-L1.
Learn more about immunotherapy in this video.
Experts Explain Immunotherapy for Cancer
Watch top oncologists speak on immunotherapy and how it can battle cancer.
Immunotherapy for Cancer in India: Complete Process Explained!
Procedure: Get Immunotherapy for Cancer in India
- Overseas patients can get safe and affordable immunotherapy treatment for cancer in India. Immunotherapy can be done alongside other cancer treatments or when other treatments fail.
- Our medical advisors contact you and collect all your existing reports, initial medical files and scans to evaluate.
- Upon examination, our team finds the perfect immunotherapy centre in India for your needs.
- Specialists in India check patients' existing gene test results to see if immunotherapy is needed. If so, a treatment plan is created, and the patient travels to India.
- Our medical advisors are connected with the patient throughout the journey, ensuring travel paperwork and the journey are seamless.
- Once in India, our team helps find accommodation and handles all logistics to make the patient journey comfortable.
- Doctors conduct more tests to determine whether the patient is eligible for advanced levels of immunotherapy.
Who Is Eligible for Immunotherapy
Not all patients with cancer can get immunotherapy.
To be eligible for the treatment, your physician will conduct several tests, including Biomarker Testing or Gene Testing.
Biomarker Testing identifies specific changes in the patient's DNA caused by cancer, determining the best treatment options. For example, an important indicator to do immunotherapy is the presence of PDL1 biomarkers[14] in the patient.
PD L1 is a molecule that usually keeps our immune system in check. However, in cancer patients, PDL1 can allow the cancer cells to escape the T-cells trying to attack them.
PD L1 interferes with the body's anti-cancer immune response and does not allow the body to become healthy.
By giving immunotherapy drugs and inhibitors, the PDL1 interference can be stopped, making the body healthy again.
This is why it is important to identify biomarkers and other blood tests to determine whether a patient is eligible for immunotherapy.
Types of Cancers Treated by Immunotherapy in India
Pancreatic Cancer
Breast
Lung
Leukemia and Lymphoma
Prostate
Liver
Colorectal
Preparing for Immunotherapy
To prepare for immunotherapy, patients need to follow some protocols:
- Tests before treatment: The patient will undergo specific gene tests, such as biomarker tests, to assess eligibility for immunotherapy. Pre-therapy tests could also include routine blood tests and imaging scans to assess the patient’s health.
- Quit smoking and drinking alcohol: Smoking and alcohol consumption can gravely harm your body.
- Eat Healthy: A balanced diet is imperative to boost a person’s immune system. Eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Follow the doctor’s recommendations on diet.
- Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water removes toxins and helps the immune system stay strong.
- Support: The therapy has side effects and can make the patient weak. International patients are welcome to bring a family member along with them.
Timeline for Immunotherapy Treatment
The duration of immunotherapy treatment varies depending on several factors, such as
- Type of cancer
- Stage of cancer
- How individuals respond to cancer
- Already existing conditions of the patient
Some patients may undergo immunotherapy for a few weeks, while others may continue the treatment for several months.
Side-effects of Immunotherapy
Most cancer treatments come with side effects due to a weakened immune system.
Some of the side effects of Immunotherapy are:
- Fever and joint pain
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue and chills
- Asthma
- Mouth sores and skin rash
- Diarrhea, nausea and vomiting
Benefits of Immunotherapy
- Immunotherapy is more accurate than other conventional therapies like chemotherapy and radiation. It targets cancerous tumours only.
- Immunotherapy has fewer side effects than other treatments because it does not damage healthy cells as much.
- Immunotherapy boosts the patients' overall immune system and remembers the cancer cells, making the disease less likely to return.
- Immunotherapy may offer patients a fighting chance to survive cancer when other treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation, fail.
Immunotherapy for Cancer: India Vs Mexico
Let’s compare India with Mexico, which is another great destination for international patients to travel to for cancer care.
| Country | India | Mexico |
| Cost of Basic Immunotherapy | USD $1200 | $1,600[15] |
| Cost of Advanced Immunotherapy | USD $ 50,000 - 85,000 | USD $50,000[16] -$400,000[17] |
| Success Rate | 95% | 95%[18] |
| Clinica Trials Approved for Advanced Therapy | 2 | 1 |
In India, immunotherapy is largely used to treat various types of cancers. Even advanced therapies like CAR T-cell therapy are being commercially used in India at top oncology centres.
What is the Success Rate of Immunotherapy for Cancer in India?
The success rate of Immunotherapy for cancer in India is 95%[19]. Research conducted by Scientists in India and published in Cancer Medicine Journal showed a confidence index of 95% in survival rate post immunotherapy.
Best Hospital for Immunotherapy for Cancer in India
The JCI-accredited facility is one of the largest private clinics in Delhi and ranks among the top 10 multi-specialty hospitals.
As part of the Max Healthcare Group, a leading provider in India, it caters to both domestic and international patients.
The hospital specializes in cancer treatment, bariatric surgery, and cardiology, using advanced equipment that meets European hospital standards.
- 60+ Years of Experience
- JCI Accredited
- NABH Accredited
- Advanced technology medical oncology like immunotherapy, targeted therapy and chemotherapy
- Leading medical oncology specialists with organ-specific expertise
- Round-the-clock critical care with OPD services, which are designed for an organ-specific approach
With advanced diagnostic units, Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, is a renowned 250-bed hospital in South Delhi, India.
It has 12 modular theatres, emergency care, Tesla MRI and Cath Labs and 50 critical beds. The hospital offers Cardiac Sciences, Orthopaedics, Urology, Neurology, Paediatrics, Obstetrics, and Gynaecology.
With 300+ specialists working here, it is a highly sought-after healthcare centre.
- NABH Accredited
- 300+ Doctors
- 22+ Departments
- JCI-accredited with high-tech equipment like Da Vinci Robot, Novalis Tx for IMRT/IGRT, Radiosurgery, HIPEC and SRS/SRT for oncology care
- Pioneers in all kinds of cancer treatment, including immunotherapy, hormone therapy and stem cell transplant
- Highly skilled oncology team, including specialists with over 4 decades of experience
Considered as one of the best hospitals in Delhi-NCR, Max Super Specialty Hospital is situated in Vaishali, Ghaziabad
Renowned for its world-class infrastructure, advanced technology, and stringent health and safety standards, it has earned multiple awards and industry accreditations, establishing itself as a leader among healthcare providers.
- NABH Accreditation
- NABL Accreditation
- 28+ Specialities
- State-of-the-art facilities and comprehensive support services for patients undergoing advanced immunotherapy like CAR-T cell therapy.
- Top haematology experts who provide advanced oncology care to patients.
- NABH-accredited multidisciplinary hospital with over 260 leading specialists.
Best Specialists for Immunotherapy for Cancer in India?
Dr. Pramod Kumar Julka
Dr. P.K. Julka is a renowned oncologist, author, and cancer researcher. Dr Julka was awarded the Padma Shri in 2013, India's fourth highest civilian honor.
He has also received the "Leading Scientist of the World 2005" award from the International Biographical Centre of Cambridge.
He has been a WHO fellow at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas, and Long Beach Memorial Cancer Centre in California, US.
Education
Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India
Memberships
- American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
- National Advisory Committee of Global Cancer Summit
Dr. Esha Kaul
American board-certified, Dr. Kaul is the Director of Hematology, Hemato-Oncology, and BMT at Max Hospital.
As a DNB in Hematology from Tufts Medical Center, USA, she is among the few doctors in India offering advanced treatments in her field.
Education
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences
- Tufts Medical Center, USA
Memberships
- American Society of Hematology
- American Society of Transplant and Cellular Therapy
- International Myeloma Society
Dr. Chandragouda Dodagoudar
Dr. Dodagoudar was awarded the Best Resident Doctor at RGCI & RC from the Honourable Vice President of India.
He has also received the Bharat Jyoti Award from NGO - India International Friendship Society.
Education
Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India
Memberships
- Delhi Medical Council
- Karnataka Medical Council
Dr. Meenu Walia
Dr. Meenu Walia leads the Department of Medical Oncology & Hematology at Max Super Specialty Hospital. She was the first in India to achieve a DNB in Medical Oncology.
Dr, Walia has received the Bharat Jyoti Award and multiple awards from IMA for Medical Excellence. She was featured in the book titled “Luminaries In Healthcare” by Mail Today in December (2015).
Education
University of Delhi, India
Memberships
- Indian Medical Association (IMA)
- American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO)
- European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)
Dr. Gopal Sharma
He is a Senior Medical Oncologist in Northern India, specializing in Haemato-medical Oncology. Dr. Sharma is a part of the Indo-American Cancer Association (IACA).
He specializes in haematological malignancies and targeted chemotherapy for solid cancers.
Education
Gujarat Cancer Research Institute, Ahmedabad, India
Memberships
- Oncology Forum, Delhi NCR
- American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
- European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO)
- Indian Society of Medical and Pediatric Oncology (ISMPO)
Conclusion
Find safe and low-cost immunotherapy for cancer in India. Let the best hospitals and certified oncologists in India help you fight cancer.
Contact us today to know what immunotherapy treatment will fit your needs.
Let’s Battle Cancer together!
Is Immunotherapy safe in India?
Yes, Immunotherapy is safe in India. As per research, immunotherapy has a success rate of 95% in India.
FAQ
Yes, Immunotherapy for cancer treatment is available in India at top hospitals such as Max Super Speciality hospitals.
Immunotherapy treatments like advanced CAR T-cell therapy can treat stage 4 cancer patients. There is research saying immunotherapy can shrink or remove cancer in advanced stages[20]. However, there is no guarantee of full recovery or survival for a stage 4 cancer patient.
References
- Wellcome: More people should have access to monoclonal antibodies. Covid-19 can make that happen
- American Society of Clinical Oncology: High Cost of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cells: Challenges and Solutions
- National Library of Medicine: The future of affordable cancer immunotherapy
- JAMA Network: Estimated Costs and Long-term Outcomes of Patients With High-Risk Non–Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Treated With Bacillus Calmette-Guérin in the Veterans Affairs Health System
- The Times of India: Monoclonal therapy a hit despite price
- National Library of Medicine: Pricing of monoclonal antibody therapies: higher if used for cancer?
- American Society of Clinical Oncology Journal: Effectiveness of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Various Tumor Types Treated by Low, Per-Weight, and Conventional Doses at a Tertiary Care Center in Mumbai
- National Library of Medicine: The future of affordable cancer immunotherapy
- National Library of Medicine: The future of affordable cancer immunotherapy
- National Cancer Institute: nonspecific immune stimulation
- Institute Curie: NON-SPECIFIC IMMUNOTHERAPY: STIMULATING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
- National Cancer Institute: Monoclonal Antibodies
- National Cancer Institute: Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
- Cancer Research Institute: Immunotherapy Biomarkers
- Journal of Clinical Oncology: Economic burden of immunotherapy as second-line treatment of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer at a Latin American oncology center.
- Journal of Clinical Oncology: Economic burden of immunotherapy as second-line treatment of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer at a Latin American oncology center.
- National Library of Medicine: Childhood leukemias in Mexico: towards implementing CAR-T cell therapy programs
- Journal of Thoracic Oncology: Immunotherapy at Any Line of Treatment Improves Survival
- Wiley Online Library: A real-world data of Immune checkpoint inhibitors in solid tumors from India
- National Cancer Institute: CAR T Cells: Engineering Patients’ Immune Cells to Treat Their Cancers
