What genetic alterations characterize salivary gland cancer?
MEC is characterized by a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 11 and 19. This leads to the formation of a fusion gene called CTRC1-MAML2. The fusion gene is present in more than 2/3 of these tumors and believed to be involved in their development. ACC is also characterized by a reciprocal translation between the long arm of chromosome 6 and the short arm of chromosome 9. This translocation generates a fusion gene called MYB-NFIB in approximately 30% of these tumors. Currently the fusion gene is associated with upregulation of the MYB gene.
