Abstract
Cancer of the parotid gland is relatively rare, but carries poor prognosis owing to its prevailing distant metastases. In addition to the disease's basic epidemiology and pathology, we review some current discoveries of its tumorigenesis molecular mechanism. Based on published salivary gland cancer clinical trial data, non-surgical antitumor efficacies amongst a range of chemotherapy, radiation, and concurrent therapy regimens are compared. We also present the current development status of novel radiation therapy and targeted therapeutics, focusing on intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) blockages, which are showing promise for improving parotid gland cancer management.
Highlights
Cancer of the parotid gland is relatively rare, but carries poor prognosis owing to its prevailing distant metastases
According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) 2011 Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Head and Neck Cancers [40], complete surgical excision is required for parotid gland carcinomas T1 &T2 [41], or clinically benign tumors, which are characterized by being mobile, superficial, slow growing, painless, with intact facial nerve (VII), and without neck nodes
Cetuximab [43], an immunoglobulin-G1 antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and erlotinib, a small-molecule inhibitor of the intracellular tyrosine kinase domain of EGFR, are among the novel targeted therapeutic agents to result in improved survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Summary
Cancer of the parotid gland is relatively rare, but carries poor prognosis owing to its prevailing distant metastases. Most common malignant parotid gland tumor, 40-50% of cases Accounts for 10% major and 33% of minor salivary gland malignant tumors
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