Salivary gland tumors are common in the head and neck region. There is a histologic overlap between many salivary gland entities including benign and malignant neoplasms, which can cause further diagnostic challenges for surgical pathologists. Currently, combined morphologic and immunohistochemical approaches are often required to resolve diagnostic difficulties, and novel biomarkers specific for individual diagnoses are still required. Prognostic and predictive biomarkers of salivary gland carcinomas currently still need to be identified.

Salivary gland tumors often have complex molecular alterations that have now beginning to have therapeutic implications. For example, a phase II evaluating AL101 (BMS-906024), a selective inhibitor of gamma secretase-mediated Notch signaling, in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma bearing activating Notch mutations is ongoing (NCT03691207). Also, a phase I trial of Notch inhibitor crenigacestat (LY3039478) in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma has been reported. Furthermore, the favorable response of HER2-positive salivary duct carcinomas to an antibody-drug conjugate has been noted. Meantime, some salivary gland tumors are now known to harbor defining balanced translocations which can be detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or next-generation sequencing. For example, secretory carcinoma of the salivary gland is characterized by ETV6-NTRK3 gene fusion. Although the future integration of molecular genetic findings into the biological and therapeutic stratification of certain salivary carcinomas is inevitable, the reported markers identified are not currently yet clinically applicable. Therefore, it is important to develop novel methods for clinical detection of genomic biomarkers allowing for new therapeutic approaches.

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles and review articles that cover the spectrum of molecular genetics, diagnosis, and therapeutic strategies for treatment of salivary gland tumors.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Molecular genetic studies of salivary gland tumors (including but not limited to mutations, amplifications, translocations, and fusions)
• Biomarkers for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of patients with salivary gland tumors
• Novel methods for the clinical detection of genomic biomarkers
• New therapies including targeted therapy and immunotherapy for salivary gland carcinomas
• Systematic reviews of the latest developments in the understanding and treatment of salivary gland tumors