Genetic alterations in salivary gland cancers.

Salivary gland cancers are an incredibly heterogeneous group of tumors that include 24 histologically distinct tumor types. The use of new genetic methods has paved the way for promising advancements in our understanding of the molecular biology underlying each type of tumor. The objective of this review was to highlight common oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and cytogenetic and epigenetic changes associated with the most common tumor types: mucoepidermoid carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, salivary duct carcinoma, mammary analogue secretory carcinoma, hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma, carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma, and acinic cell carcinoma. Recent insights into the pathogenesis of each cancer subtype have helped better define and classify these tumors. Further research in salivary gland cancers should focus on determining the key genes involved in the tumorigenesis of each distinct malignancy and identifying individualized chemotherapies directed at these targets.

唾液腺癌症是一组极具异质性的肿瘤，包括24种组织学上不同的肿瘤类型。新的基因方法的使用为我们理解每种肿瘤类型背后的分子生物学带来了有希望的进展。本综述的目的是强调与最常见的肿瘤类型相关的常见癌基因、肿瘤抑制基因以及细胞遗传学和表观遗传学变化，这些肿瘤类型包括：黏液表皮样癌、腺样囊性癌、唾液腺导管癌、乳腺类似物分泌性癌、透明细胞透明变性癌、多形性腺瘤癌变和腺泡细胞癌。对每种癌症亚型发病机制的最新见解有助于更好地定义和分类这些肿瘤。唾液腺癌症的进一步研究应侧重于确定参与每种不同恶性肿瘤发生的关键基因，并确定针对这些靶点的个体化化疗方法。