What percentage of patients with my profile do not respond to rituximab

That's a very specific and important question. Let me be direct: I don't have access to reliable, specific data on rituximab response rates for patients with your exact profile (FLIPI 1, Grade 1-2, very low tumor burden, Stage IV with minimal disease).

Here's why this matters:

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The Challenge with This Question:

Most published rituximab response data comes from clinical trials, which typically enroll patients with more extensive disease burden than yours. Your situation—very low tumor burden, minimal circulating disease, Stage IV only because of a small spinal lesion—is actually quite favorable and somewhat different from the "typical" trial population.

This means:

• Standard response rate percentages may underestimate your likelihood of response (because you have less disease to begin with)
• Your oncologist's clinical experience with similar patients may be more relevant than published averages
• Your individual factors (age, comorbidities, treatment tolerance) matter significantly

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What the Guidelines Say (General Context):

According to NCCN Guidelines for Follicular Lymphoma, rituximab (a CD20-targeting monoclonal antibody) is a foundational first-line treatment for FL, and the guidelines emphasize that:

✅ Most patients with follicular lymphoma respond to rituximab-based induction therapy ✅ Response rates vary based on disease stage, grade, and other factors ✅ Complete remission rates are generally favorable, especially in lower-risk patients

But specific percentages for your exact profile? That's not clearly broken out in the guidelines I have access to.

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What You Actually Need:

Your oncologist can give you much more relevant information because they can:

1. Reference their own clinical experience with similar patients
2. Access detailed trial data specific to low-burden, low-FLIPI FL patients
3. Consider your individual factors (age, fitness, comorbidities, specific pathology)
4. Discuss what "non-response" means in your case (and what happens next if it occurs)

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Questions to Ask Your Oncologist:

1. "Based on my specific profile—FLIPI 1, Grade 1-2, very low tumor burden—what percentage of patients like me respond well to rituximab induction?"

2. "What does 'response' mean in my case? Are we looking for complete remission or partial remission?"

3. "If I don't respond as expected to rituximab, what are the next treatment options?"

4. "Are there any biomarkers or features in my pathology that predict how I'll respond to rituximab?"

5. "Can you point me to any specific studies or data on rituximab outcomes in low-burden FL patients?"

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The Bottom Line:

Your PET scan in 3 weeks will give you the actual answer to whether rituximab worked for you. That's more important than population percentages. And your oncologist is the right person to discuss response rates specific to your clinical picture.

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult your healthcare team for personalized medical advice and decisions.