A molecular guide to systemic therapy in salivary gland carcinoma

• Published in: Head & neck Vol. 45; no. 5; pp. 1315 - 1326
• Main Authors: Weaver, Alice N., Lakritz, Stephanie, Mandair, Divneet, Ulanja, Mark B., Bowles, Daniel W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-05-2023; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: adenoid cystic carcinoma; Androgen receptors; Carcinoma; Chemotherapy; Clinical trials; Cytotoxicity; ErbB-2 protein; Gene Fusion; Head & neck cancer; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Immunotherapy; Metastases; mucoepidermoid carcinoma; Notch protein; Oral cancer; precision therapy; Receptor mechanisms; salivary duct carcinoma; Salivary gland; salivary gland cancer; Salivary Gland Neoplasms - pathology; Salivary Glands - pathology; salivary gland cancer; adenoid cystic carcinoma; mucoepidermoid carcinoma; salivary duct carcinoma; precision therapy
• ISSN: 1043-3074; 1097-0347
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.27307

Salivary gland carcinomas (SGC) are a rare and variable group of head and neck cancers with historically poor response to cytotoxic chemotherapy and immunotherapy in the recurrent, advanced, and metastatic settings. In the last decade, a number of targetable molecular alterations have been identified in SGCs including HER2 upregulation, androgen receptor overexpression, Notch receptor activation, NTRK gene fusions, and RET alterations which have dramatically improved treatment outcomes in this disease. Here, we review the landscape of precision therapy in SGC including current options for systemic management, ongoing clinical trials, and promising future directions.