Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer in India: Costs, Success & Side Effects
Discover immunotherapy for colorectal cancer in India as a cutting-edge treatment option. Benefit from advanced therapies, top oncologists, and prime medical facilities at a fraction of the cost compared to the West. Read more about costs, success rates, side effects, and more!
Did you know?
- Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the US.
- It is also the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among all sexes.[1]
What Is the Cost of Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer in India?
The cost of immunotherapy for colorectal cancer in India starts at $1,200. It can go upto 85,000 for advanced immunotherapy treatments. However, the same treatment in the US starts at $15,000 - $30,000. It can go up to over $400,000 for advanced treatments such as CAR T-cell therapy.
Various immunotherapies are available in India. They range from basic drugs and medications to advanced treatments such as CAR T-cell therapy.
Check out the table below to explore the different types of immunotherapies and their costs.
|
Type of Immunotherapy |
Description |
Cost in India (USD) |
Cost in the US (USD) |
| Non-Specific Immunotherapy | Administering general drugs to increase immune system | Starts at $1200 | Ranges between $15,000 - $30,000 |
| Monoclonal Antibodies | Man-made proteins that are inserted in the body to act like antibodies | $1500 | Over $100,000 |
| Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors | Medication boosting the immune system by removing all checkpoints in fighting cancer | $82,000 | $250,000 |
| T-cell Therapy (CAR T-cell therapy) | Use of a part of a patient’s white blood cells to fight cancer by modifying them in a lab | $50,000 - $85000 | Over $400,000. |
*Prices are case-dependent and subject to change at the discretion of the hospital/oncologists
Cost of Other Treatments for Colorectal Cancer in India
The cost of alternate treatments for colorectal cancer in India starts at $10,000. However, on the other hand, the same treatment will cost you up to $300,000 in the US.
Alternate treatments for colorectal cancer in India include surgery or polypectomy (partial or total colectomy), ablation, and embolisation. Other systemic therapies include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.
Check out the table below to compare the cost of alternate treatments in India vs the US.
| Treatments | Cost in India (USD) | Cost in the US (USD) |
| Alternate Treatments for Colorectal Cancer | Starts at $10,000 | Up to $300,000[13] |
Read the complete guide to immunotherapy for cancer in India and find this innovative, cost-effective treatment option in India. This cutting-edge approach could significantly enhance your overall treatment plan.
Overview of Immunotherapy for Cancer in India
Immunotherapy helps your body fight cancer. Your body has a defence system called the immune system, which includes white blood cells and organs like lymph nodes that protect you from getting sick.
Normally, your immune system can find and destroy bad cells to stop cancer from growing. Some special immune cells, called TILs, are found in tumours and show that your body is fighting cancer. People with TILs usually do better.
But cancer cells can hide from your immune system by:
- Changing so they are harder to see.
- Making proteins that turn off immune cells.
- Changing nearby normal cells to block the immune response.
In short, immunotherapy helps your immune system fight cancer better.
Source: National Cancer Institute[2]
Latest in the Field of Immunotherapy
- New Drug Combination: Recent clinical trials have shown promising results with new immunotherapy drug combinations.
For example, the combination of botensilimab and balstilimab has shown activity in treating metastatic colorectal cancer. This type of cancer has been resistant to previous immunotherapy treatments.[3]
- Advanced Cellular Therapies: The approval of lifileucel, a new cellular therapy for advanced melanoma, marks a significant milestone. This therapy involves using a patient's tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) to fight cancer.
It's shown promise for melanoma and other solid tumours like lung and ovarian cancers.[4]
Different Types of Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy includes various approaches that harness your body’s immune system to fight cancer. Here are some key types of immunotherapy treatments.
- Non-Specific Immunotherapy: Nonspecific immunotherapy boosts your overall immune response. Specific immunotherapy targets your immune system against a particular tumour or increases tolerance to a specific allergen.[5]
- Monoclonal Antibody: You have natural antibodies in your blood that fight infections. Monoclonal antibody (MAB) therapies mimic these but are lab-made. MABs are all one type of antibody, created as many identical copies.
There are many MABs for treating cancer, each working in different ways. Some target cancer cells directly, while others target immune system cells. Each MAB targets a specific protein.
MABs can trigger your immune system to attack cancer cells or help it recognise and destroy them more effectively.
Source: Cancer Research UK[6]
- Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Immune checkpoint inhibitors are drugs that help your immune system fight cancer. They block proteins or checkpoints which cancer cells use to hide from your immune system. An example of a checkpoint is PD-1, PD-L1.
By blocking these checkpoints, the drugs allow your T-cells to recognise and attack cancer cells. This method has successfully treated various cancers, enhancing your body’s natural defence against tumours.[7]
- T-cell Therapy (CAR T-cell therapy): CAR T-cell therapy for cancer in India is a treatment where your T cells are modified in a lab to target cancer cells. Blood is taken from your arm and processed to remove T cells. In the lab, a special receptor called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) is added to these T cells, making them more powerful.
The cells are grown in large numbers and injected back into the body. These modified T cells can now bind to cancer cells and kill them.[8]
Immunotherapy and Colorectal Cancer
In the early stages, colorectal cancer might not show any symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they can include:[9]
- Changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhoea or constipation.
- A feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely.
- Blood in your stool, making it look dark brown or black.
- Bright red blood from the rectum.
- Abdominal pain and bloating.
- Feeling full even if you haven’t eaten recently.
- Fatigue or tiredness.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Anemia.
If you notice any of these symptoms, you must talk to your doctor.
Most colorectal cancers start as growths on the inner lining of the colon or rectum, called polyps. Polyps are common, especially as you age. Most are benign, but some can become cancerous over time.
How Does Immunotherapy Work?
Immunotherapy uses your own immune system to help destroy cancer cells.
PD-L1 is a protein that helps keep immune cells from attacking non-harmful cells in the body. By testing for PD-L1, doctors can identify which patients are more likely to respond to specific immunotherapy drugs, leading to more personalised and effective treatment plans.
Latest in the Field of Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer
A major advancement in treating advanced colorectal cancer in India uses a combination of two immunotherapy drugs, nivolumab (opdivo) and ipilimumab. This treatment has been especially effective for patients with specific genetic traits (MSI-H or dMMR tumours).
If you are treated with this combination therapy, your chances of living longer without your cancer getting worse are much higher compared to traditional chemotherapy. After about two years, 72% of patients on this treatment were alive, and their cancer hadn't progressed. In comparison, only 14% of chemotherapy patients experienced the same outcome.
Source: American Society of Clinical Oncology[10]
Procedure: Complete Guide to Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer in India
Find everything you need to know about accessing immunotherapy for colorectal cancer in India as an overseas patient. This guide covers travel plans, eligibility, benefits, and more.
Plan Your Travel
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' 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.
Candidate for Immunotherapy in India for Breast Cancer
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 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.
Prepare for Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer in India
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.
Benefits of Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer
- Enhanced Survival Rates: Immunotherapy can significantly improve survival rates for patients with specific genetic profiles like MSI-H and dMMR.
- Targeted Treatment: It offers a more targeted approach by harnessing the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells, specifically reducing damage to healthy tissues.
- Long-Term Protection: Immunotherapy can provide long-term protection against cancer recurrence by boosting the immune system's memory to recognise and attack cancer cells in the future.
- Personalised Therapy: Treatments can be tailored to the genetic makeup of the cancer, leading to more effective and personalised care.
Side-Effects of Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer
You might experience some side effects with immunotherapy drugs. These include fatigue, cough, nausea, diarrhoea, skin rash, loss of appetite, constipation, joint pain, and itching.
Other side effects include:[11]
- Infusion Reactions: Sometimes, you might have an infusion reaction, similar to an allergic reaction. It can include symptoms like fever, chills, flushing of the face, rash, itchy skin, dizziness, wheezing, and trouble breathing. Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of these during treatment.
- Autoimmune Reactions: These drugs work by taking away one of the body's immune system safeguards. It can sometimes cause your immune system to attack other body parts. It further can lead to serious issues in organs like the lungs, intestines, liver, hormone glands, nerves, skin, kidneys, and others.
It’s crucial to promptly report any new side effects to your healthcare team.
What is the Success Rate of Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer?
The success rate of immunotherapy for colorectal cancer is 98% at one year, 91% at two years, and 84% at three years post-treatment. This is a progression-free rate. This means that 98% of patients had no cancer worsening after 1 year.
After two years, 91% still had no progression, and after three years, 84% of patients continued to have no new growth of the cancer.
Source: AACR[12]
Best Hospital for Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer in India
With a network of 14 hospitals across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Punjab, they offer standardized and international-class healthcare services across 29 specialties.
BLK Max Hospital, one of the largest private clinics in Delhi, ranks among the top 10 Multi Sup
- 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
Equipped with 256 Slice CT Angio, 3.0 Tesla MRI, and Cath Labs, it offers Cardiac Sciences, Orthopaedics, Urology, Neurology, Paediatrics, Obstetrics, and Gynaecology.
With 300+ specialists and advanced technology, it provides comprehens
- 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
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 Colorectal Cancer in India
Dr. Pramod Kumar Julka
44 years
M.D.
Expertise
Oncology
Education
Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India
- Emeritus Member - American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
- Member - Society of Cancer Research & National Advisory Committee of Global Cancer Summit 2015
- Leading Scientist of the World 2005’ Award - International Biographical Centre of Cambridge, England (2005)
Dr. Esha Kaul
12 years
MBBS
Expertise
Haematology, Oncology, Stem Cells
Education
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
- Member of the American Society of Transplant and Cellular Therapy
- Residency in Internal Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, USA
- Director of Hematology, Haemato-Oncology & BMT Max Hospital, Vaishali
Dr. Chandragouda Dodagoudar
19 years
MD (General Medicine)
Expertise
Medical Oncology
Education
Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India.
- Best Resident Doctor award at RGCI and RC- Received an award from Honorable Vice President of India
- Organ-Specific Medical Oncologist
- Bharat Jyoti Award from NGO - India International Friendship Society
Dr. Meenu Walia
33 years
MD (Internal Medicine)
Expertise
Medical Oncology
Education
University of Delhi, India.
- Part of American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO)
- Member of European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and Indian Medical Association (IMA)
- Featured in a book titled “Luminaries In Healthcare” by Mail today in December (2015)
Dr. Gopal Sharma
He specializes in hematological malignancies and targeted chemotherapy for solid cancers.Read more
Education
Gujarat Cancer Research Institute, Ahmedabad, India.
Memberships
- Oncology Forum, Delhi NCR
- ASCO
- European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO)
- Indian Society of Medical and Pediatric Oncology (ISMPO)
Conclusion
Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer in India offers a promising solution for overseas patients seeking cancer treatment. With internationally acclaimed oncologists, a high success rate, and 80% cost savings, India provides lucrative treatment plans at JCI-accredited hospitals.
Contact us to learn more about your eligibility for immunotherapy.
Why MTC Partners in India Have the Best Immunotherapy Program for Colorectal Cancer?
Experienced Oncologists, massive savings, and high success rates are among the top reasons why MTC partners in India have the best immunotherapy program for Colorectal Cancer.
Let’s dive into detail:
- Advanced Therapies: MTC partners in India offer cutting-edge immunotherapy treatments, such as CAR-T cell therapy and checkpoint inhibitors, ensuring you receive the latest and most effective options.
- Top Oncologists: You will benefit from the expertise of highly trained oncologists with over 4 decades of experience. Further, these specialists have International and National accreditations, including:
- American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
- European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)
- Indo-American Cancer Association (IACA)
- Society of Cancer Research & National Advisory Committee of Global Cancer Summit
- Indian Medical Association (IMA)
- Cost-Effective: The treatment plans in India are offered at a fraction of the cost compared to the US, making high-quality care more accessible. You can save ~80% by getting immunotherapy for Cancer in India.
- High Success Rates: Clinical trials and patient outcomes show high success rates, particularly for patients with specific genetic markers like MSI-H and dMMR.
- Comprehensive Treatment Plans: Personalized treatment plans are tailored to your genetic profile and medical history, ensuring the best care.
Adjuvant Therapy: Many patients also benefit from adjuvant therapy, which involves additional treatment after primary therapy to reduce the risk of cancer returning. This can include a combination of immunotherapy and other treatments to ensure a comprehensive approach to cancer care.
FAQs
The best immunotherapy for colon cancer includes checkpoint inhibitors like pembrolizumab and nivolumab. These drugs have shown significant effectiveness, especially in MSI-H or dMMR tumours patients.
Yes, colorectal cancer can be treated with immunotherapy. It is particularly effective for patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) tumours.
Yes, immunotherapy for cancer is available in India. Leading hospitals like Max Healthcare and BLK Max offer advanced immunotherapy treatments for various types of cancer, including colorectal cancer.
The downsides of immunotherapy include potential side effects such as fatigue, nausea, diarrhoea, and skin rash. More serious side effects can include autoimmune reactions where the immune system attacks healthy tissues, leading to complications in organs like the lungs, liver, and intestines.
References
- Medical News Today: Colorectal cancer: What you need to know
- NIH | National Cancer: Institute Immunotherapy to Treat Cancer
- OncLive: Neoadjuvant Botensilimab/Balstilimab Combo Induces Early Efficacy in pMMR/dMMR CRC
- Springer: Immunotherapy
- Cancer Research UK: Monoclonal antibodies (MABs)
- Medical News Today: Colorectal cancer: What you need to know
- American Society of Clinical Oncology: Dual Immunotherapy Treatment Improves Progression-Free Survival in Certain Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer
- American Cancer Society: Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer
- American Association for Cancer Research: Study Shows Continuing Benefit After Stopping Immunotherapy
- Pubmed: Cost of treating metastatic colorectal cancer: a systematic review