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Best Medical Oncologists for Immunotherapy in Chennai, India

This page lists 6 immunotherapy doctors in Chennai, India. Review each doctor's experience, specialty and hospital, then contact our care team for help with the next step.

Quick answer

This page lists 6 immunotherapy doctors in Chennai, India. Review each doctor's experience, specialty and hospital, then contact our care team for help with the next step.

About Immunotherapy doctors in Chennai, India

This directory is based on doctors currently listed in GAF Healthcare's registry. Clinical suitability varies by patient; a doctor should review your history and investigations before any treatment decision.

Immunotherapy doctors

Image not available Featured

Dr. Arun Ramanan V

MBBS, MD (Radiotherapy), DM (Medical Oncology), FIPM, Certificate in Palliative Care
Clinical Lead and Senior Consultant — Medical Oncology · Specialty: Medical Oncologist
Gleneagles HealthCity Chennai Chennai, India16+ Years experience
Why consider this doctor?
  • 16+ years of experience in Medical Oncologist
  • Clinical Lead and Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology — Gleneagles HealthCity Chennai, Perumbakkam, Present
  • Medical Oncology Specialist — Gleneagles HealthCity Chennai, Previous tenure with clinical trial and tumour board leadership roles
Expertise & Procedures
  • Chemotherapy administration and management
  • Cancer immunotherapy and checkpoint inhibitor therapy
  • Targeted therapy and molecular cancer treatment
  • Hormone therapy for breast cancer
  • Bone marrow transplantation and stem cell support
View all procedures →
Medical Oncologist Experience: 16+ YearsHospital Affiliation: Gleneagles HealthCity ChennaiHospital accreditation: NABH, JCI
View Profile Book a Consultation
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Dr. S. Viswanath

MBBS, MD, DM
Senior Consultant — Medical Oncology · Specialty: Medical Oncologist
Rela Hospital Chennai, India17+ Years experience
Why consider this doctor?
  • 17+ years of experience in Medical Oncologist
  • Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology — Rela Hospital, Cancer Centre, Chennai (Present)
  • Commandant — Military Hospital, Chennai (2020–2021)
Expertise & Procedures
  • Chemotherapy Administration
  • Targeted Cancer Therapy
  • Cancer Immunotherapy
  • CAR-T Cell Therapy
  • Hormone Therapy for Breast and Prostate Cancer
View all procedures →
Medical Oncologist Experience: 17+ YearsHospital Affiliation: Rela HospitalHospital accreditation: NABH, NABL
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Dr. J. Jebasingh

MBBS, MD (Radiotherapy), DNB (General Medicine), DM (Medical Oncology)
Senior Consultant — Medical Oncology · Specialty: Medical Oncologist
Rela Institute & Medical Centre Chennai, India33+ Years experience
Why consider this doctor?
  • 33+ years of experience in Medical Oncologist
  • Senior Consultant — Medical Oncology, Rela Institute & Medical Centre, Chennai (Present)
  • Specialist training in Bone Marrow Transplantation, Cancer Institute, Adyar, Chennai
Expertise & Procedures
  • Chemotherapy Administration for Solid Tumors
  • Cancer Immunotherapy and Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • Targeted Cancer Therapy (HER2, EGFR, ALK inhibitors)
  • Hormone Therapy for Breast and Gynecologic Cancers
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation (Autologous and Allogeneic)
View all procedures →
Medical Oncologist Experience: 33+ YearsHospital Affiliation: Rela Institute & Medical CentreHospital accreditation: NABH, NABL
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Dr. K. R. Gopi

MD, MRCP, Medical Oncology Certification, European Board Certification, DNB
Senior Consultant — Medical Oncology · Specialty: Medical Oncologist
Dr. Rela Institute and Medical Centre Chennai, India30+ Years experience
Why consider this doctor?
  • 30+ years of experience in Medical Oncologist
  • Senior Consultant — Medical Oncology, Dr. Rela Institute and Medical Centre, Chennai, Present
  • Consultant — Medical Oncology, Apollo Speciality Hospital, Chennai
Expertise & Procedures
  • Chemotherapy Administration and Management
  • Cancer Immunotherapy (checkpoint inhibitors)
  • Targeted Therapy for Solid Tumours
  • Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer
  • Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer
View all procedures →
Medical Oncologist Experience: 30+ YearsHospital Affiliation: Dr. Rela Institute and Medical CentreHospital accreditation: NABH, NABL
View Profile Book a Consultation
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Dr. Ponni Sivaprakasam

MBBS, MRCPCH, Fellowship Clinical, Fellow, BMT & Co-ordination
Senior Consultant — Medical Oncology · Specialty: Medical Oncologist
Gleneagles Global Health City Chennai, India17+ Years experience
Why consider this doctor?
  • 17+ years of experience in Medical Oncologist
  • Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology — Gleneagles Global Health City, Chennai, Present
  • Consultant Paediatric Haemato-Oncology — Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre, Bangalore
Expertise & Procedures
  • Bone marrow transplantation (autologous and allogeneic)
  • Stem cell mobilization and apheresis
  • Chemotherapy administration and management
  • CAR-T cell therapy infusion and monitoring
  • Cancer immunotherapy and targeted therapy protocols
View all procedures →
Medical Oncologist Experience: 17+ YearsHospital Affiliation: Gleneagles Global Health CityHospital accreditation: NABH, JCI
View Profile Book a Consultation
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Dr. Sujith Kumar Mullapally

MBBS, MD, DM
Consultant — Medical Oncology · Specialty: Medical Oncologist
Apollo Proton Cancer Centre Chennai, India9+ Years experience
Why consider this doctor?
  • 9+ years of experience in Medical Oncologist
  • Consultant, Medical Oncology – Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai, India (Present)
  • Consultant & Head of Department, Oncology – Aster MIMS, Kannur, Kerala, India
Expertise & Procedures
  • Chemotherapy for solid tumors
  • Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors
  • Targeted molecular therapy
  • Hormone therapy for breast cancer
  • Hormone therapy for prostate cancer
View all procedures →
Medical Oncologist Experience: 9+ YearsHospital Affiliation: Apollo Proton Cancer CentreHospital accreditation: JCI, NABH
View Profile Book a Consultation

Hospitals where these doctors practise

Gleneagles Global Hospital🇮🇳 Chennai, India
Starting from$1,000

Gleneagles Global Hospital

Est. 1999
NABH — National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers accreditationJCI — Joint Commission International accreditation
ImmunotherapyMedical OncologyCardiac SurgeryCardiology
2+
Doctors for Immunotherapy
4.7
112 reviews
1000+
Beds
27+
Years Since Founded
Dr. Arun Ramanan VDr. Ponni Sivaprakasam
View Hospital Profile Enquire / Get Free Opinion
Dr. Rela Institute and Medical Centre🇮🇳 Chennai, India
Starting from$1,000

Dr. Rela Institute and Medical Centre

Est. 2018
NABH — National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers accreditationNABL — National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accreditation
ImmunotherapyMedical OncologyCardiac SurgeryCardiology
3+
Doctors for Immunotherapy
4.7
108 reviews
450+
Beds
8+
Years Since Founded
Dr. S. ViswanathDr. J. JebasinghDr. K. R. Gopi
View Hospital Profile Enquire / Get Free Opinion
Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road🇮🇳 Chennai, India
Starting from$1,000

Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road

Est. 1983
JCI — Joint Commission International accreditationNABH — National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers accreditation
ImmunotherapyMedical OncologyCardiac SurgeryCardiology
1+
Doctors for Immunotherapy
4.7
125 reviews
560+
Beds
43+
Years Since Founded
Dr. Sujith Kumar Mullapally
View Hospital Profile Enquire / Get Free Opinion

Why consider treatment in India?

Many international patients consider India for head & neck cancer treatment for several reasons, including:

More affordable estimates

Competitive indicative costs compared with many other countries, for similar clinical standards.

Internationally accredited hospitals

Hospitals experienced in treating international patients.

Experienced specialists

Doctors who regularly manage similar cases.

Care coordination support

A team to help with planning, medical translation and follow-up.

About the Procedure

What is Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy uses drugs that help the patient's own immune system recognize and destroy cancer cells, and is used across many cancers including breast, lung, colorectal, gastric/esophageal, liver/pancreatic, ovarian/gynaecological, head & neck cancers, leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. It is given as an infusion in cycles, either alone or combined with chemotherapy/targeted therapy, and India offers globally approved immunotherapy drugs and advanced options like CAR-T cell therapy at a fraction of Western costs. Treatment plans are individualized based on tumor type, biomarker status (e.g., PD-L1, MSI), and stage of disease.

Who may be considered?

Immunotherapy may be considered after a qualified specialist reviews your reports and medical history. Suitability varies from person to person and must be assessed by your treating doctor.

How does it work?

Drugs such as PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors are given as IV infusions every 2-4 weeks to block signals that let cancer cells evade the immune system, often combined with chemotherapy for greater effect.

3 approaches available for this procedure:

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy

Most Common

Drugs such as PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors are given as IV infusions every 2-4 weeks to block signals that let cancer cells evade the immune system, often combined with chemotherapy for greater effect.

Comprehensive Investigations

Estimated cost: $400 - $1,500

CBC, liver and kidney function tests, thyroid function tests, PD-L1/MSI/biomarker testing, contrast CT/PET-CT, ECG, tumor board review

Treatment / Procedure Estimate

Estimated cost in India: $1,500 - $3,500 per cycle

Stay in India

Pre-procedure stay (outside hospital): ~2-3 days
Hospitalisation: ~1 day (day-care per cycle)
Recovery period (outside hospital): ~2-3 days recommended between cycles
Total stay: approx 4-6 cycles over 3-6 months

Usually Included in Hospital Package

  • Oncologist consultations
  • Day-care infusion facility
  • Drug administration and monitoring
  • Pre-cycle blood work
  • Nursing care during infusion

Usually Not Included

  • Cost of immunotherapy drug (billed per cycle)
  • Interim PET-CT/imaging for response assessment
  • Management of immune-related side effects if hospitalization needed
  • Genetic/biomarker testing not covered under package

Recovery and follow-up

Most patients tolerate immunotherapy infusions as outpatients and can resume light activity within a day or two, though fatigue, skin rash, or flu-like symptoms are common and are monitored through regular blood tests before each cycle. CAR-T patients require a longer inpatient recovery period with close monitoring for delayed immune reactions.

Risks

Immunotherapy can trigger immune-related side effects affecting the skin, gut, lungs, liver, or endocrine glands, and rarely severe reactions like cytokine release syndrome (especially with CAR-T) that require prompt hospital management. Response to treatment varies by tumor type and biomarker status, and not all patients achieve remission.

Alternatives

Depending on the cancer type and stage, alternatives include conventional chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, surgery, or a combination approach as advised by the tumor board.

What we need to prepare a formal estimate

Share whatever you have — the care team will confirm the final checklist after reviewing your case.

Reports required

  • Histopathology and biopsy report confirming cancer type
  • Biomarker/genetic testing results (PD-L1, HER2, MSI, EGFR, etc.)
  • Recent CT/PET-CT/MRI imaging reports
  • Complete blood count and liver/kidney function tests
  • Previous chemotherapy/radiotherapy/surgery records
  • Bone marrow biopsy report (for blood cancers)
  • Cardiac evaluation report (ECG/ECHO)
  • Discharge summaries from previous hospitalizations

Patient information needed

  • Current age, weight, and general performance status
  • Detailed cancer diagnosis with stage and biomarker status
  • History of prior treatments and response to them
  • Any known drug allergies or autoimmune conditions
  • Current medications including steroids or immunosuppressants
  • Presence of other chronic conditions (diabetes, heart or lung disease)
  • Availability of a caregiver/attendant during treatment
  • Preferred treatment start date and travel flexibility

Costs shown are indicative planning estimates based on typical pricing across leading Indian hospitals. They are not a quote — actual pricing depends on your case complexity, hospital choice, and length of stay. Share your reports for a personalized estimate.

Want a formal estimate?

Share your reports and patient information so our care coordination team can review your case.

How this directory is built

Doctors are matched using the specialty, location, condition (Immunotherapy) and procedure (Immunotherapy) recorded in their profiles. Inclusion is not an endorsement and does not guarantee a treatment outcome.

Need help with the next step?

Share your needs with our care coordination team for information about doctors and hospitals.

Common questions

FAQs about Immunotherapy in Chennai, India

What is Head & Neck Cancer?
Head and neck cancer refers to a diverse group of malignant tumours arising from the mucosal surfaces, glands, or other tissues of the head and neck region, most commonly squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx. The term encompasses several distinct cancer types that differ in location, behaviour, and treatment approach.
What are the symptoms and health risks of Head & Neck Cancer?
Common warning signs include a persistent sore throat or hoarseness, a non-healing mouth ulcer or red/white patch, difficulty or pain when swallowing, a lump in the neck, unexplained ear pain, nasal obstruction, or unintentional weight loss. Symptoms may vary considerably depending on the tumour's site—for example, voice changes are more typical of laryngeal involvement, while a painless neck mass may suggest lymph node spread from an oropharyngeal primary. It is important to note that these symptoms can also be caused by non-cancerous conditions, so the presence of any one of them does not establish a diagnosis and must be evaluated by a qualified clinician.
How is Head & Neck Cancer diagnosed?
Diagnosis typically begins with a detailed history and thorough head and neck examination, including flexible nasopharyngoscopy or laryngoscopy to visualise mucosal surfaces directly. A tissue biopsy—obtained endoscopically, via fine-needle aspiration of a neck mass, or through open biopsy—is essential for histological confirmation and to determine tumour type and grade. Staging is then established using cross-sectional imaging (CT and/or MRI of the head, neck, and chest), and in many cases PET-CT scanning, following the AJCC TNM classification system (stages I–IV), with HPV/p16 status increasingly tested for oropharyngeal tumours because it significantly influences prognosis and treatment planning.
How is Head & Neck Cancer treated?
The appropriate treatment strategy depends on tumour site, histological type, TNM stage, HPV status, and the patient's overall health, and is best determined through a multidisciplinary tumour board involving oncology, surgery, and radiation specialists. Early-stage cancers (stages I–II) may be managed with a single modality—either surgery or radiotherapy—while locally advanced disease (stages III–IV) typically requires combined approaches such as concurrent chemoradiotherapy, with or without surgery. For eligible patients, systemic therapies including chemotherapy, immunotherapy (e.g., checkpoint inhibitors such as pembrolizumab), and targeted therapy (e.g., cetuximab) play important roles, particularly in the recurrent or metastatic setting; the optimal regimen is always individualised based on clinical assessment.
Can Head & Neck Cancer be treated without a procedure?
Non-surgical pathways are well-established and widely used in head and neck cancer management. Definitive (curative-intent) chemoradiotherapy is a standard of care for many oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and hypopharyngeal cancers, and can preserve organ function while achieving disease control comparable to surgery in appropriately selected patients. Systemic agents—chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy—are central to treatment of recurrent or metastatic disease, and surveillance-only management may be appropriate in select, very early low-risk lesions after discussion with a specialist.
When is Immunotherapy considered for Head & Neck Cancer?
Immunotherapy may be considered only when it is appropriate for the confirmed diagnosis and the expected benefit outweighs the individual risks. The decision may depend on symptom severity, investigation results, previous treatment, overall health and the patient's goals. A specialist should discuss alternatives and recovery before any procedure is planned.
Which doctor treats Head & Neck Cancer?
Head and neck cancers are managed by a multidisciplinary team typically led or co-led by a head and neck surgical oncologist (or otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeon), a radiation oncologist, and a medical oncologist with expertise in head and neck malignancies. Additional input from speech and language therapists, dietitians, and reconstructive surgeons is often integral to comprehensive care.
How do I choose a doctor for Head & Neck Cancer?
When selecting a care team, look for specialists who practice within a dedicated head and neck oncology multidisciplinary unit, with documented experience in your specific tumour site, access to advanced endoscopic and robotic surgical platforms or intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) where relevant, and a clear pathway for rehabilitation, nutritional support, and long-term follow-up. Asking about the team's annual case volume for your tumour type and their approach to HPV testing and tumour board review can help you compare providers meaningfully.
What documents do international patients need to share for a medical evaluation?
Share a concise medical summary, symptom timeline, previous diagnoses, investigation and imaging reports, procedure or biopsy reports where relevant, current medicines, allergies and related treatment records. Provide clear copies with translations when needed. The reviewing doctor may request additional information before giving an opinion.
How does GAF Healthcare help international patients plan treatment in India?
Our care coordination team can review the initial information, help identify suitable doctors and hospitals, request a medical opinion where available, explain next steps and indicative cost information, and support practical planning before travel. A remote opinion does not replace an in-person examination or emergency care.
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