If you search for cancer success rates, you will see two very different headlines. One says "Chemotherapy is still the gold standard," while the other claims "Immunotherapy is the cure."

For patients, this is confusing. If Immunotherapy is so successful, why isn't it prescribed to everyone?

The answer lies in how doctors measure "success."

• Chemotherapy often wins the sprint (shrinking tumors fast).
• Immunotherapy often wins the marathon (keeping tumors away for years).

At Karetrip, we believe you need more than just hope—you need hard data. This guide goes beyond the hype to compare the actual survival statistics, explaining why "Durability" is the new buzzword in oncology.

1. The Core Difference: "Response" vs. "Durability"

To understand the success rates, you must understand two medical concepts.

Chemotherapy: The Sprinter (High Response Rate)

Chemotherapy acts fast. It poisons rapidly dividing cells.

• The Stat: In many cancers, chemotherapy has a Higher Overall Response Rate (ORR) initially.
• Translation: If 100 people take chemo, 60 might see their tumors shrink immediately.
• The Downside: Cancer is smart. It eventually develops resistance to the drugs, and the tumor may start growing again after 6 to 12 months.

Immunotherapy: The Marathon Runner (Durable Response)

Immunotherapy doesn't kill cancer directly; it teaches your immune system to do it.

• The Stat: It often has a Lower Initial Response Rate.
• Translation: If 100 people take immunotherapy, perhaps only 30 respond initially.
• The Upside: For those 30 people, the results can be spectacular. Because the immune system has "memory," it keeps fighting the cancer for years, even after treatment stops. This is called the "Tail of the Curve."

2. Success Rates by Cancer Type

The "winner" depends entirely on the battlefield.

A. Advanced Melanoma (Skin Cancer)

This is Immunotherapy's biggest victory.

• Chemotherapy Era: Before 2011, the 5-year survival rate for Stage 4 Melanoma was less than 10%.
• Immunotherapy Era: With dual checkpoint inhibitors (Nivolumab + Ipilimumab), the 5-year survival rate is now over 52%.
• Verdict: Immunotherapy wins by a landslide.

B. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

• Chemotherapy Alone: Historically offered a 5-year survival rate of approx 15% for advanced stages.
• Immunotherapy Alone: For patients with high PD-L1 expression, this rate jumps to approx 32%.
• Verdict: Immunotherapy doubled the survival chance for specific patients.

3. The "Secret Sauce": Biomarkers (PD-L1)

Why does Immunotherapy work like magic for some but fail for others? It comes down to Biomarkers.

• PD-L1 (Programmed Death-Ligand 1): This is a protein on cancer cells that acts like a "mask," hiding them from the immune system.
• High PD-L1 (>50%): Immunotherapy has a massive success rate because the drug rips the mask off.
• Low PD-L1 (<1%): Immunotherapy alone often fails. In these cases, Chemotherapy is still the better option (or a combination of both).

4. The New Standard: Combination Therapy

Because doctors want both the "Sprint" and the "Marathon," the modern standard of care is often Chemo-Immunotherapy.

• The Strategy: Use Chemotherapy to kill tumor cells quickly (releasing antigens) and use Immunotherapy to train the immune system on those antigens for long-term control.
• The Result: In the Keynote-189 trial (Lung Cancer), the combination reduced the risk of death by 51% compared to chemo alone.

Conclusion: It's About "Your" Success Rate

Statistics are averages, not destinies.

• If you have a "Hot Tumor" (High PD-L1, MSI-High), Immunotherapy offers the best chance at long-term survival.
• If you have a "Cold Tumor," Chemotherapy remains a powerful, life-extending tool.

At Karetrip, we help patients decode these complex statistics. We assist with:

• Biomarker Testing: Coordinating the specific lab tests (PD-L1, TMB) that determine if Immunotherapy will work for you.
• Second Opinions: Confirming if you are eligible for the latest clinical trials.
• Medical Travel: Accessing drugs (like Keytruda or Opdivo) that might be cheaper in medical hubs like India or Turkey.

"What is my PD-L1 score?" Ask Rua. Do you have your pathology report but don't know what the numbers mean? Chat with our WhatsApp AI agent, Rua. Rua can explain if your PD-L1 score suggests you are a good candidate for Immunotherapy.

Medical Disclaimer

The content provided in this blog, including statistics on survival and response rates, is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. "Success rates" are based on population averages and clinical trial data; individual outcomes vary significantly based on genetics, cancer stage, and overall health. Always seek the advice of your oncologist or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your specific prognosis or treatment plan. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Karetrip website. Reliance on any information provided by Karetrip is solely at your own risk.