Immunotherapy Success Rate: Why it’s not the Miracle Cancer Drug
Immunotherapy success rates are debated by experts. has been hailed as by many medical experts as “the magic bullet” in the war against cancer. Representing a new way to fight cancer by using the body’s own immune system to kill cancer cells, immunotherapy has been hyped as a major breakthrough in the war against cancer.
The reality is immunotherapy is a promising new cancer treatment but for Indian cancer patients today these are the facts:
- Immuntherapy Success Rate: Only 20% of Patients Respond
- With a clinical benefit rate of 20% immunotherapy treatment has a long way to go to be useful for all patients. At present, the response rates are about in-line with other targeted therapies.
- Tests such as microsatellite instability (MSI), PD-L1, and tumor mutation burden help find patients with a greater chance at responding.
- Certain types of cancer may different response rates.
- Immunotherapy is Expensive
- Cancer treatment in India places financial strain on my families. Most Indians are pay out of pocket rather than through insurance. Immunotherapy in India is among the most expensive cancer treatment options and easily cross 10 lakhs! As many patients cannot afford it the immunotherapy success rates in India are unknown.
- Not all types of Immunotherapy are available in India
- Currently India lack’s behind the west in availability of options. Patients should know the pros/cons of options available locally. Improving the availability gives more options and can increase immunotherapy success rates.
- In rare cases it accelerates cancer
- Studies have shown that in some patients instead of fighting cancer immunotherapy actually accelerates the progression of cancer. The uncertainty is one of the reasons guidelines don’t recommend it for first line treatment.
References:
https://www.webmd.com/cancer/immunotherapy-risks-benefits#1
https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/cancer-information/cancer-treatment/immunotherapy/challenges/.
