Salivary gland malignancies: the role for chemotherapy and molecular targeted agents

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Head and Neck Cancer Research

Background:

• Salivary gland tumors are rare neoplasms, accounting for less than 1% of all malignancies.
• Systemic therapy is the standard for locoregional recurrent or metastatic salivary gland disease.
• Current cytotoxic agents demonstrate modest objective response rates (15-50%) with limited duration of response (6-9 months).

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the need for further evaluation of novel therapies in salivary gland tumors.
• To emphasize the potential of molecular targeted therapy for these neoplasms.
• To advocate for improved study designs and cooperative group efforts in clinical trials.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing phase II studies assessing cytotoxic agents in salivary gland tumors.
• Discussion on the characteristics of salivary gland carcinomas, including their indolent nature.
• Emphasis on the importance of stringent inclusion criteria for accurate disease response reporting.

Main Results:

• Objective response rates for current systemic therapies are modest, ranging from 15% to 50%.
• Duration of response is typically short, around 6 to 9 months.
• Salivary gland carcinomas are often indolent, necessitating treatment only for progressive disease.

Conclusions:

• Novel therapies, including molecular targeted agents, are urgently needed for salivary gland tumors.
• Well-designed clinical trials with stringent criteria are essential for evaluating new treatments.
• The establishment of salivary gland-focused cooperative groups is necessary to advance treatment guidelines.