Do I need all three (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy)?

Lung Cancer Systemic Therapy in Istanbul

In short

Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy are three distinct systemic options for lung cancer, often combined. Which applies depends on biomarker testing (EGFR, ALK, PD-L1) and stage. Free 72h second opinion reviews your case.

For lung cancer, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy are three distinct systemic-therapy options, often used in combination rather than as alternatives — which one (or which combination) applies depends on biomarker testing (EGFR, ALK, PD-L1) and stage, not preference. Administration costs are itemized separately per protocol; a free 72-hour tumor-board second opinion reviews which options fit your specific case.

What it costs

UPDATED Q3 2026PLACEHOLDER — PENDING Q3 2026 QUOTES

Chemotherapy administration, per cycle

$1,200–2,800

Germany typical $6,500 · −69%

Administration only — drugs (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted-therapy agents) are itemized per protocol in your personal quote. No fixed course price is published for immunotherapy or most targeted regimens, since drug choice and duration vary by biomarker results and response.

Get an itemized quote for your regimen

What it costs

Q3 2026

Chemo administration

$1,200–2,800

Germany: $6,500 · placeholder (administration only)

Get an itemized quote for your regimen

How the decision is made — a process, not a recipe

Biomarker testing (EGFR, ALK, PD-L1) is standard at diagnosis and determines which systemic options are candidates — targeted therapy, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination. Small-cell lung cancer uses a different chemotherapy-based approach.

For non-small cell lung cancer (the most common type), biomarker testing — EGFR, ALK, and PD-L1 among others — is standard at diagnosis, because it determines which systemic options are realistic candidates. Tumors with an EGFR mutation or ALK rearrangement are generally matched to a targeted-therapy drug. Tumors with sufficient PD-L1 expression are considered for immunotherapy, sometimes combined with chemotherapy. Tumors without a targetable biomarker are typically treated with chemotherapy, sometimes combined with immunotherapy. Small-cell lung cancer, which behaves differently, is treated with a different chemotherapy-based approach.

The decision generally follows

EGFR-mutated or ALK-rearranged tumors → targeted therapy · high PD-L1 tumors → immunotherapy, alone or with chemotherapy · no targetable biomarker → chemotherapy, sometimes with immunotherapy

Exceptions the board weighs case by case

Small-cell histology (different approach entirely) · overall fitness for systemic therapy · disease that has already progressed on a prior regimen

Not sure which option applies to you?

Send your reports and biomarker results — the tumor board answers in 72 hours. Free.

Upload reports

How each option is delivered

Systemic therapySystemic therapy, outpatient

outpatient · cycles or continuous dosing · protocol-dependent

Chemotherapy: outpatient infusion cycles. Immunotherapy: outpatient infusion, every 2–6 weeks. Targeted therapy: often a daily oral pill. All adjusted over time based on response.Chemotherapy is given in cycles (a treatment day followed by a rest period) via outpatient infusion. Immunotherapy is given as an outpatient infusion, typically every 2–6 weeks. Targeted therapy is often a daily oral pill, though some agents are infused. All three are adjusted or stopped based on how the specific case responds and tolerates treatment — a process the treating oncologist manages over time, not a single upfront decision.

Typical timeline

Biomarker results

Therapy starts

First response check

Systemic therapy

3–7 days after biopsy

outpatient, ongoing

restaging scan, ~2–3 months in

Not sure which option applies to you?

Free 72h answer — upload reports

Who's involved

Verified, consented surgeon profiles are being onboarded — illustrative example profiles are shown elsewhere on the site while we complete verification.

Hospital options

Two states of the same component — before and after your personal quote.

state 1 · pre-quote (anonymized)

Hospital AJCI

$9,200–11,800

Hospital BJCI

$8,500–10,400

Hospital C

$10,900–12,600

Names revealed with your personal quote

state 2 · post-quote (named)

Pera Oncology Center

Named in your quote[placeholder name]

Your itemized quote$2,100

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Fair questionsFair questions about lung cancer systemic therapy

No — it depends on your biomarker results and stage. Many patients receive just one option; others a combination.

No — which one, or which combination, applies depends entirely on your biomarker results and stage. Many patients receive one option alone; others receive a combination. The tumor board's role is matching your specific results to the standard decision pathway, not defaulting to all three.

Every cancer case is individual. Assessments are based on the reports you provide and do not replace in-person examination. Survival statistics are population-level data, not personal predictions.

Chemotherapy explained →Immunotherapy explained →Targeted & hormone therapy explained →

Verify at

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment (PDQ) — National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Targeted Therapy for Cancer — National Cancer Institute (NCI)