01 · OVERVIEW
What Is Immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy is a breakthrough cancer treatment that empowers your own immune system to recognize, target, and eliminate cancer cells. Cancer cells often produce signals that camouflage them from immune surveillance. Immunotherapy unmasks these cancer cells and boosts natural defense mechanisms.
Unlike traditional chemotherapy which attacks rapidly dividing cells indiscriminately, immunotherapy trains the immune system with precision. As an AIIMS-trained medical oncologist in Jaipur, Dr. Rishabh Jain determines the exact biomarker profile of your tumour to choose the most effective immunotherapy protocol.
02 · MECHANISMS
Types of Immunotherapy
Modern immunotherapy encompasses multiple targeted immunological modalities:
Checkpoint Inhibitors
Block PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 proteins, removing the "brakes" on immune T-cells so they can destroy cancer.
Monoclonal Antibodies
Engineered proteins that latch onto specific antigens on cancer cells to flag them for immune destruction.
Cancer Vaccines
Biological vaccines designed to train the immune system to recognize specific cancer antigens.
Combination Immuno-Oncology
Synergistic protocols combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy or targeted drugs for enhanced tumour control.
03 · CANDIDACY
Who Needs Immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy is proven highly effective in many solid tumours and hematologic malignancies, including:
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Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) with positive PD-L1 expression.
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Renal Cell Carcinoma (Kidney Cancer) and Bladder / Urothelial Carcinomas.
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Metastatic Melanoma and advanced skin cancers.
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Recurrent or metastatic Head & Neck squamous cell carcinoma.
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Colorectal and GI cancers with High Microsatellite Instability (MSI-H) or dMMR.
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Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) and select relapsed Lymphomas.
Precision Testing: Suitability for immunotherapy is determined through specialized molecular and biomarker testing performed on tumour biopsy tissue.
04 · PREPARATION
Biomarker Tests Before Immunotherapy
Before starting immunotherapy, comprehensive testing verifies whether the tumour will respond effectively:
PD-L1 Expression Test
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) score measures the percentage of cancer cells expressing PD-L1 receptors.
MSI-H / MMR Testing
Identifies mismatch repair deficiencies which predict exceptional sensitivity to checkpoint blockers.
Tumour Mutational Burden (TMB)
Next-Gen Sequencing (NGS) counts genetic mutations; high TMB creates more targets for immune cells.
Thyroid & Endocrine Labs
Baseline TSH, cortisol, and hormone levels checked before immunomodulating therapy.
Autoimmune Assessment
Screening for pre-existing autoimmune conditions to ensure immunotherapy safety.
PET-CT / MRI Staging
Baseline scans to accurately map baseline tumor burden for response evaluation.
05 · PATIENT CARE
Side Effects of Immunotherapy and How We Manage Them
Immunotherapy is generally better tolerated than conventional chemotherapy, with no hair loss and much less nausea. Side effects are typically related to immune overactivation (immune-related adverse events) and are fully reversible when caught early.
| Immune Effect |
How It Is Managed |
| Mild Fatigue |
Light daily exercise, rest breaks, and hydration support. |
| Skin rash or itching |
Topical soothing creams, antihistamines, and mild corticosteroid creams. |
| Thyroid fluctuations (Hypo/Hyperthyroidism) |
Regular TSH blood monitoring and simple daily thyroid hormone supplementation. |
| Diarrhoea / Colitis |
Early reporting; managed effectively with hydration and anti-inflammatory medications. |
| Cough or shortness of breath (Pneumonitis) |
Prompt imaging review and short courses of corticosteroids if lung inflammation occurs. |
| Mild fever or joint aches |
Paracetamol and supportive anti-inflammatories under medical supervision. |
Contact Dr. Rishabh Jain's clinical team promptly if you experience any of the following:
• Severe or watery diarrhoea (more than 4-5 times a day)
• New or worsening cough, or difficulty breathing
• Yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice) or dark urine
• Severe unexplained fatigue, dizziness, or headache
• Widespread severe blistering skin rash
• Persistent fever higher than 100.4°F (38°C)
06 · FINANCIAL CLARITY
Immunotherapy Cost in Jaipur
Immunotherapy drugs are modern biological medicines. The total cost varies based on drug molecule, weight-based or flat dosing, and treatment duration:
Specific Molecule
Pembrolizumab, Nivolumab, Atezolizumab, or Durvalumab based on cancer type.
Patient Assistance Programs
Pharmaceutical PAP schemes often provide significant free-drug support.
Infusion Frequency
Administered once every 2, 3, or 4 weeks in a daycare setting.
Daycare Administration
Administered safely in day care suites without expensive hospitalization.
Biomarker Guidance
Ensures expensive immunotherapy is given only when high response is anticipated.
Insurance & Cashless
Fully covered under standard mediclaim insurance and major TPA panels.
Transparent Guidance: Dr. Rishabh Jain helps patients navigate patient assistance programs (PAP) and insurance pre-authorizations to make immunotherapy accessible and affordable.
