Current concepts in research related to oncogenes implicated in salivary gland tumourigenesis: a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Salivary gland tumours are relatively uncommon and there exists considerable difficulty in decisions regarding prognosis and management, as well as diagnostic uncertainty that has implications for treatment.

METHOD: Literature pertaining to individual oncogenes has been reviewed and commented upon, specifically looking at the role of these as diagnostic and prognostic markers and as potential targets for treatments.

RESULTS: kit, PLAG1, Mect1-Maml2, HMGIC, HER2/neu, ras, c-fos and Sox-4 all have seminal small-scale studies in the literature with potential for further research and eventual clinical applications.

CONCLUSION: A wide variety of oncogenes are implicated in salivary gland tumourigenesis, with evidence being confined to small murine or in vitro studies more often than not. There are possible roles for different oncogenes in therapeutics, prognosis and management of specific salivary gland tumours.