MALT lymphoma | UniteRare Disease Library

Overview

MALT lymphoma, which stands for Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue lymphoma, is a type of slow-growing cancer that starts in the immune cells lining the body's mucous membranes — the moist tissue layers found in places like the stomach, lungs, eyes, thyroid, and salivary glands. It is also called extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of MALT type. This cancer belongs to a group called non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and it is one of the most common low-grade (slow-growing) lymphomas in adults. The most common form affects the stomach and is strongly linked to a bacterial infection called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). When the stomach lining is repeatedly irritated by this infection, immune cells can start growing out of control and form a lymphoma. Other triggers include certain autoimmune conditions and other chronic infections. Symptoms depend on where the lymphoma is located — stomach MALT lymphoma may cause indigestion, stomach pain, or nausea, while lymphoma in the eye area may cause redness or blurred vision. The good news is that MALT lymphoma is usually diagnosed at an early stage and responds well to treatment. For stomach MALT lymphoma caused by H. pylori, simply treating the bacterial infection with antibiotics can cause the lymphoma to go away completely in many patients. Other treatments include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy with drugs like rituximab, and in some cases, surgery. Most people with MALT lymphoma have an excellent long-term outlook.

Also known as:

Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma MALToma Mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue lymphoma Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma

Key symptoms:

Persistent stomach pain or discomfortNausea or feeling full quickly after eatingUnexplained weight lossHeartburn or indigestion that does not go awayFatigue or low energySwollen lymph nodes (lumps under the skin)Redness, irritation, or blurred vision in the eye (if lymphoma is in the eye area)Dry mouth or swollen salivary glandsChest discomfort or shortness of breath (if lymphoma is in the lungs)Skin rash or lumps (if lymphoma affects the skin)Night sweatsMild fever

Clinical phenotype terms (17)— hover any for plain English

Abnormal nasolacrimal system morphologyHP:0000614B-cell lymphomaHP:0012191Mediastinal lymphadenopathyHP:0100721Posterior uveitisHP:0012123

Inheritance

Sporadic

Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent

Age of Onset

Adult

Begins in adulthood (age 18 or older)

Orphanet ↗OMIM ↗NORD ↗

FDA & Trial Timeline

10 events

Apr 2026Molecular and Cellular Characterization of MALT Lymphoma

International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group (IELSG)

TrialNOT YET RECRUITING

Apr 2026CD20 Monoclonal Antibody-Based First-Line Therapy in Treatment-Naive Marginal Zone B-Cell Lymphoma

Henan Cancer Hospital

TrialNOT YET RECRUITING

Feb 2026Rituximab Plus Venetoclax in Front Line Marginal Zone Lymphoma

Gottfried von Keudell, MD PhD — PHASE2

TrialRECRUITING

Jan 2026Exploratory Study of Orelabrutinib in the Treatment of Early-stage Untreated MZL

Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, China — PHASE2

TrialRECRUITING

Oct 2025Orelabrutinib as Consolidation and Maintenance Therapy in Treatment-Naïve MZL.

The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University — PHASE2

TrialRECRUITING

Oct 2025Integrated Molecular and Clinical Profiling of Transformed Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma

International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group (IELSG)

TrialRECRUITING

Oct 2025Epcoritamab in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Marginal Zone Lymphoma (MZL)

Izidore Lossos, MD — PHASE2

TrialRECRUITING

Oct 2025Treatment of BTKi+Hi-CVP Regimen for Previously Untreated MZL

Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences — PHASE2

TrialACTIVE NOT RECRUITING

Sep 2025Orelabrutinib Plus Low-Dose Radiotherapy Or Rituximab For Ocular Adnexal MALT Lymphoma

Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University — PHASE2

TrialACTIVE NOT RECRUITING

Sep 2025Prospective Study of Frontline Antibiotics Therapy in the Treatment of Early-stage HP-negative Gastric MALT Lymphoma

National Taiwan University Hospital — PHASE2

TrialNOT YET RECRUITING

Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.

Treatments

No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for MALT lymphoma.

20 clinical trialsare actively recruiting — trials can provide access to cutting-edge therapies.

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Clinical Trials

20 recruitingView all trials with filters →

Phase 34 trials

A Phase 3 Study to Assess Efficacy and Safety of Tafasitamab Plus Lenalidomide and Rituximab Compared to Placebo Plus Lenalidomide and Rituximab in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory (R/R) Follicular Lymphoma or Marginal Zone Lymphoma.

Phase 3

Active

· Sites: Concord, California; Greenbrae, California +259 more · Age: 18–99 yrs

MIL62 Combined With Lenalidomide Versus Lenalidomide for Patients With Rituximab Refractory Follicular Lymphoma

Phase 3

Actively Recruiting

· Sites: Beijing · Age: 18–99 yrs

Comparison Between Rituximab Plus Zanubrutinib Versus Rituximab Monotherapy in Untreated SMZL Patients

Phase 3

Active

PI: Davide Rossi, MD (Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland - Belli) · Sites: Vienna; Bordeaux +49 more · Age: 18–99 yrs

Mosunetuzumab-Lenalidomide Versus Investigator Choices in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Marginal Zone Lymphoma

Phase 3

Actively Recruiting

PI: Catherine THIEBLEMONT, Pr (Lymphoma Study Association) · Sites: Anderlecht; Brussels +46 more · Age: 18–99 yrs

Phase 41 trial

Clinical Study of OR for Second-line Treatment of Refractory MZL

Phase 4

Actively Recruiting

PI: Chen (First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University) · Sites: Hangzhou, Zhejiang; Ningbo, Zhejiang +1 more · Age: 18–80 yrs

Phase 212 trials

The Treatment of Ocular Adnexal Extranodal Marginal Zone B-cell Lymphoma by Orelabrutinib and Radiotherapy

Phase 2

Actively Recruiting

PI: Jun Shi (Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Sha) · Sites: Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Age: 18–75 yrs

A Phase II Study Using Rituximab Plus Venetoclax in the Front Line Treatment of Marginal Zone Lymphoma

Phase 2

Active

PI: Andrew Zelenetz, MD, PhD (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center) · Sites: Duarte, California; Basking Ridge, New Jersey +6 more · Age: 18–99 yrs

Mosunetuzumab in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma

Phase 2

Actively Recruiting

PI: Izidore Lossos, MD (University of Miami) · Sites: Miami, Florida · Age: 18–99 yrs

Zanubrutinib Plus Rituximab as Front-line Treatment for Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma (MALT)

Phase 2

Actively Recruiting

· Sites: Guangzhou, Guangdong · Age: 18–99 yrs

Orelabrutinib Combined With Obinutuzumab and Lenalidomide (OGL Regimen) as First-line Treatment for Marginal Zone Lymphoma.

Phase 2

Actively Recruiting

· Sites: Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Age: 18–99 yrs

Orelabrutinib Combined With Rituximab Versus R-CVP in the Untreated MZL： A Randomized, Open Phase II Trial

Phase 2

Actively Recruiting

PI: Fei Li, professor (The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Universi) · Sites: Nanchang, Jiangxi · Age: 18–99 yrs

Exploratory Study of Orelabrutinib in the Treatment of Early-stage Untreated MZL

Phase 2

Actively Recruiting

PI: Shuhua yi (Hematology Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sc) · Sites: Guangzhou, Guangdong; Zhengzhou, Henan +12 more · Age: 18–99 yrs

A Study of Response Adapted Ultra Low Dose 4 Gy Radiation for Definitive Therapy of Marginal Zone Lymphoma

Phase 2

Actively Recruiting

PI: Jillian Gunther, MD (M.D. Anderson Cancer Center) · Sites: Houston, Texas · Age: 18–99 yrs

Pirtobrutinib in Combination With Rituximab in Adults With Untreated Marginal Zone Lymphoma (PIONEER-MZL)

Phase 2

Actively Recruiting

· Sites: St Louis, Missouri; Salt Lake City, Utah · Age: 18–99 yrs

Orelabrutinib Followed by Response-adapted Ultra-low Dose 4Gy Radiation as First-line Treatment of MALT Lymphoma

Phase 2

Active

PI: Rong Tao (Fudan University) · Sites: Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Age: 18–99 yrs

Phase II Trial of First-line Doxycycline for Ocular Adnexal Marginal Zone Lymphoma Treatment

Phase 2

Active

PI: Andrés Ferreri, MD (Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy) · Sites: Messina; Milan +5 more · Age: 18–99 yrs

Obinutuzumab in Marginal Zone Lymphoma

Phase 2

Active

PI: Christian Buske, MD (University Hospital of Ulm) · Sites: Bochum; Essen +10 more · Age: 18–99 yrs

Other3 trials

Registry Study of Chinese Patients with Marginal Zone Lymphoma (MOTIVE)

Actively Recruiting

· Sites: Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · Age: 14–99 yrs

BCL6-rearrangements Implications in Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas.

Active

· Sites: Pierre-Bénite · Age: 25–100 yrs

Integrated Molecular and Clinical Profiling of Transformed Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma

Actively Recruiting

PI: Luca Arcaini, MD (Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo) · Sites: New York, New York; Leuven +5 more · Age: 18–99 yrs

Specialists

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MP

Markus Raderer, Prof

Specialist

Marginal zone lymphoma

PI on 2 active trials

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