Salivary gland carcinomas: molecular abnormalities as potential therapeutic targets

Salivary gland neoplasms are composed of histopathologically and clinically diverse entities. The reported response rates of salivary gland tumors to chemotherapy are generally poor. Molecular studies have provided some information on their biology and have identified new targets with therapeutic potential.

Several agents are currently being tested that target molecular signaling and cancer cell biology. The pathways involved include but are not limited to vascular endothelial growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptors. Novel treatments under evaluation include tyrosine kinase inhibitors, antibodies, angiogenesis inhibitors, demethylating agents, and proteasome inhibitors.

Some of these new targeted approaches hold promise for our future ability to treat patients with salivary gland cancer unresponsive to traditional therapy, but others were disappointing. The presence of the molecular target alone is not sufficient to guarantee an antitumor effect with targeted therapy. The success of these molecular-targeted agents depends on the molecular abnormalities involved in carcinogenesis.