CAR-NK Shows Long-Term Response in Waldenström Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Patients with Waldenström Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the U.S. achieved durable complete responses of up to 15 months using a chemotherapy-free CD19 CAR-NK (chimeric antigen receptor natural killer) cell therapy combined with rituximab, according to a news release from ImmunityBio reported on January 16, 2026.

The treatment was given entirely in outpatient settings and required no lymphodepletion chemotherapy, offering a potential new approach for patients who have exhausted standard therapies.

What were the results of the QUILT-106 study?

Updated results from the ongoing QUILT-106 study show that patients who received eight doses of CD19 CAR-NK plus rituximab maintained 100% disease control to date. Two patients with long-term follow-up continue to demonstrate complete remission at seven and 15 months without additional treatment.

One patient with extensive bone marrow involvement, in which 95% of the marrow was overtaken by tumor cells, achieved complete remission after four doses and has maintained it for 15 months. Another patient with multiple lymphomatous bone lesions reached complete remission that has lasted at least seven months. Responses were evaluated after two cycles, highlighting a rapid onset of remission.

“These data highlight a favorable safety and efficacy profile that is particularly important for patients with indolent yet incurable lymphomas,” Dr. Lennie Sender, chief medical officer, Liquid Tumors and Cell Therapy at ImmunityBio, said in the news release. “To date, all patients have been treated as outpatients with no serious adverse events, demonstrating the feasibility of delivering potent cellular immunotherapy without the morbidity traditionally associated with cell-based treatments.”

The therapy combines CD19 CAR-NK cells with rituximab, targeting CD19 and CD20 on lymphoma cells. Patients received two doses per cycle every 21 days for four cycles, totaling eight CAR-NK infusions and six rituximab infusions, with no further treatment required afterward.

Trial details and therapy design for the QUILT-106 study

QUILT-106 is an ongoing study testing an off-the-shelf allogeneic CD19 CAR-NK therapy in patients with Waldenström Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. CD19 CAR-NK cells are engineered natural killer cells that express a CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor and a high-affinity CD16 receptor, enabling two anti-tumor mechanisms: direct CAR-mediated killing and enhanced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity when combined with rituximab.

The study is designed to administer therapy without lymphodepletion chemotherapy or inpatient hospitalization. All four patients enrolled to date have been treated entirely in outpatient settings. The trial also plans to explore combining CD19 CAR-NK therapy with ANKTIVA, an interleukin-15 superagonist, and rituximab to further enhance immune response in indolent lymphomas including Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia.

What is the safety and tolerability of CAR-NK for patients with Waldenström Non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

The therapy has demonstrated a favorable safety profile. All patients were treated as outpatients with no serious adverse events reported. The absence of chemotherapy and lymphodepletion reduces the typical treatment-related risks associated with conventional CAR-T therapies, including hospitalization and high toxicity.

“This updated follow-up reinforces the central thesis that restoring and activating the immune system can deliver durable control of disease without chemotherapy or lymphodepletion,” said Dr. Patrick Soon‑Shiong, founder, executive chairman, and global chief medical and scientific officer of ImmunityBio, said in the news release. “Seeing complete responses persist beyond a year after treatment has stopped, in patients who had exhausted available options, represents a meaningful advance for patients with this rare disease of Waldenström lymphoma and validates CAR-NK as a potential next-generation immunotherapy platform.”

Future research and outlook

Enrollment and follow-up in QUILT-106 are ongoing, and additional updates will be shared as more patients complete therapy and longer-term data mature. The current results suggest that CD19 CAR-NK therapy with rituximab may provide durable, outpatient-based treatment for patients with Waldenström Non-Hodgkin lymphoma who have limited options.

Understanding Waldenström lymphoma

Waldenström lymphoma is a rare type of non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma that grows slowly and often affects the bone marrow and lymph nodes. Patients may experience fatigue, anemia, enlarged lymph nodes, or bone pain. While it is typically considered indolent, meaning it progresses slowly, it is currently incurable with standard therapies, making new treatment options particularly important for patients who relapse or do not respond to existing treatments.

Reference

1. “Durable complete response of 15 months with a chemotherapy-free CD19 CAR-NK cell therapy in Waldenstrom Lymphoma” by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, et al., ImmunityBio press release.

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