Cytogenetic and molecular observations in human and experimental salivary gland tumors

The chromosomal banding patterns in 189 benign and malignant salivary gland tumors are reviewed. For comparison, karyotypic data from a recent series of polyoma virus-induced salivary gland tumors in the mouse are discussed. Special interest is focused on the relationships between the highly specific patterns of translocations and deletions in these tumors and different genes involved in neoplasia, in particular oncogenes, and tumor suppressor genes.