Immunotherapy for Oral Cancer in India: Cost, Hospitals & Treatment Type

What Is the Cost of Immunotherapy for Oral Cancer in India?

The cost of immunotherapy for oral cancer in India starts at USD $1,200 for basic medication. Advanced immunotherapies such as CAR T-cell therapy can go up to USD $85,000. 

Find below what all is included and not included in the cost package.

The treatment begins at $15,000 in the USA and can go up to $400,000.

Not every oral cancer case requires immunotherapy. Your doctor will evaluate multiple factors before recommending this treatment.

Below is a cost table showing the range and cost of immunotherapy options to treat oral cancer.

 

Cost for Immunotherapy for Oral Cancer in India

Type of Immunotherapy	About the immunotherapy	Cost in India in USD	Cost in the US in USD
Non-Specific Immunotherapy	Giving basic drugs for increasing immunity	Starts at $1200	Ranges between $15,000[1]  -$30,000[2]
Monoclonal Antibodies	Man-made proteins that act  like antibodies	$1500[3]	Over $100,000[4]
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors	Removes all checkpoints that fight cancer	$82,000[5]	$250,000[6]
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 - $85,000	Over $400,000[7]

Cost of Other Treatments for Oral Cancer in India

Besides immunotherapy, other treatments may be effective in treating oral cancer. Many times, immunotherapy is used along with other conventional cancer treatments.

In India, the standard cancer treatment options include:

• Surgery: This involves the surgical removal of the cancerous tissue. If the nearby lymph nodes are affected, they are also removed from the neck during the procedure.
• Radiation therapy: Most often, radiation therapy is given to the patient before and after surgery. When radiation therapy is done after surgery, it helps kill any cancer cells that may have been left behind.
• Chemotherapy: In some oral cancer cases, chemotherapy may be required along with radiotherapy. Chemotherapy involves inducing chemicals in the body that kill cancerous tumors.

The cost of oral cancer treatment in India varies widely but is more affordable than in the US:

Stage of oral cancer	Cost in India in USD	Cost in the USA in USD
Average treatment cost (standard doses)	$4600+[8]	$45,000 to $75,000[9]

While these oral cancer treatments have been effective and affordable, advanced immunotherapy procedures are becoming more accessible to patients.

Our complete guide to Immunotherapy for cancer in India will help you learn about this latest treatment.

Overview of Immunotherapy for Cancer in India

With promising immunotherapy results and several companies researching various drugs, the treatment is becoming increasingly popular in India.

A study in India found that an ultra-low dose of the immunotherapy drug nivolumab is helpful for people with advanced stages of head and neck cancers and helps them live longer.^[10]

Different Types of Immunotherapy

There are different types of immunotherapy procedures. Some of these are targeted drug therapies or biological therapies. Let’s get acquainted with them here:

• Non-specific immunotherapy
  As the name suggests, this immunotherapy is not specific to cancer but tries to better the immune system of the body as a whole. Highly beneficial for cancer as well, the therapy includes an infusion of cytokines, interferons, and interleukins to boost the immune response.
• Monoclonal antibodies (MAB)
  Antibodies are naturally found in our blood and help fight infections. Monoclonal antibodies are artificial antibodies prepared in a lab and injected into the patient's body. There are different types of monoclonal antibodies, and they work in many ways. Each monoclonal antibody works by identifying specific proteins in the cells. They either trigger the immune system to attack the cancer cells or act on the cells to help the immune system attack them.
• Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  These are immunotherapy molecules that block checkpoint proteins. The checkpoints stop the immune system from attacking cancer cells. Some examples of immune checkpoint inhibitors include pembrolizumab and ipilimumab.
• T-Cell Therapy (CAR T-Cell Therapy)
  CAR T-cell therapy is a complex and specialized immunotherapy treatment. During this procedure, the specialist collects and modifies the patient’s T-cells. This modified T-cell is now called a Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell or a CAR T-cell.

Read the complete guide to CAR T-Cell Therapy in India right here.

Immunotherapy and Oral Cancer

Oral cancer affects the mouth and throat, causing difficulty swallowing, speaking, and eating.

Immunotherapy is a modern cancer treatment that stimulates the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. Some recent studies in India have shown that low doses of certain immunotherapy drugs effectively treat oral cancer and cause fewer side effects.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy is the most effective immunotherapy for oral cancer. Top Indian hospitals are treating oral cancer with immunotherapy.

A study in India showed promising results with a low-dose nivolumab regimen for advanced head and neck cancers.^[10] Many studies across the globe have found the use of immunotherapy for oral cancer effective as a neoadjuvant therapy for recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancer.^[11]

Procedure: Complete Guide to Immunotherapy for Oral Cancer in India

Immunotherapy for oral cancer in India is highly accessible and affordable for overseas patients. Here is an all-inclusive detailed guide detailing everything from travel to connecting with the right oncology program.

• 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 center 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 Oral 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 biomarker 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 essential to identify biomarkers and other blood tests to determine whether a patient is eligible for immunotherapy.

Prepare for Immunotherapy for Oral 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 evaluate 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 Oral Cancer

Immunotherapy is particularly beneficial for oral cancer:

• Immunotherapy increases survival rates. A study published in NCBI showcased progression-free survival rates were 66.9% and 50.1% at six months and one year, respectively^[12]
• More effective in preventing disease progression
• More targeted treatment in comparison to radiotherapy and chemotherapy

Side-Effects of Immunotherapy for Oral Cancer

As with other therapies to treat cancer, Immunotherapy too can cause side effects in patients.

Common side effects of immunotherapy for oral cancer include:^[13]

• Endocrinopathies (conditions affecting hormone-producing glands) like hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland), hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland)^[14]
• Fatigue
• Skin rash or itchiness^[15]
• Pain
• Gastrointestinal trouble like constipation and diarrhoea
• Reaction to infusions or the chemotherapeutic drug
• Loss of appetite

The side effect depends upon several factors:

• Your overall health before treatment
• The stage and grade of your cancer
• Extent of spread
• Type of oral cancer

What Is the Success Rate of Immunotherapy for Oral Cancer in India?

The success rate of immunotherapy for oral cancer in India can go up to 80%.^[16] This was stated in a controlled study conducted in India among patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which showed better responses to immunotherapy.

The success rate of immunotherapy for oral cancer in India varies for every individual. A 2020 clinical trial showed that around 52% of participants experienced a clinical reduction of their primary tumor after immunotherapy.^[17]

Best Hospital for Immunotherapy for Oral Cancer in India

Best Specialists for Immunotherapy for Oral Cancer in India

Conclusion

With 80% success rate, Immunotherapy for oral cancer in India is a promising treatment option. Find affordable care at JCI-accredited hospitals with top oncologists.

Connect today!

Why MTC Partners in India Have the Best Immunotherapy Program for Oral Cancer?

MTC partners with the best immunotherapy programs for oral cancer in India to deliver the most successful treatments to patients at reasonable prices. Our partner cancer centers and hospitals have:

• The most experienced doctors: Our cancer specialists have over 30 years of experience treating oral cancer and have successfully treated head and neck cancers with immunotherapy.
• Best-in-class facilities: Our partner facilities have state-of-the-art facilities that provide comprehensive cancer care- from diagnosis to treatment.
• Comprehensive patient care: Our partner centers offer personalized cancer care tailored to your needs. They use a multidisciplinary approach to ensure exceptionally customized patient care.

All our partner immunotherapy program centers are equipped with advanced devices that enable precise diagnosis and manage cancer with minimal damage to surrounding organs.

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