Stage I Salivary Gland Cancer
Stage II Salivary Gland Cancer
Stage III Salivary Gland Cancer
Stage IV Salivary Gland Cancer

A link to a list of current clinical trials is included for each treatment section. For some types or stages of cancer, there may not be any trials listed. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but may be right for you.

Treatment for stage I salivary gland cancer depends on whether the cancer is low-grade (slow growing) or high-grade (fast growing).

If the cancer is low-grade, treatment may include the following:

• Surgery with or without radiation therapy.
• Fast neutron radiation therapy.

If the cancer is high-grade, treatment may include the following:

• Surgery with or without radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of a new local therapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage I salivary gland cancer.

Treatment for stage II salivary gland cancer depends on whether the cancer is low-grade (slow growing) or high-grade (fast growing).

If the cancer is low-grade, treatment may include the following:

• Surgery with or without radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy.

If the cancer is high-grade, treatment may include the following:

• Surgery with or without radiation therapy.
• Fast neutron or photon-beam radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of radiation therapy and/or radiosensitizers.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage II salivary gland cancer.

Treatment for stage III salivary gland cancer depends on whether the cancer is low-grade (slow growing) or high-grade (fast growing).

If the cancer is low-grade, treatment may include the following:

• Surgery with or without lymphadenectomy. Radiation therapy may also be given after surgery.
• Radiation therapy.
• Fast neutron radiation therapy to lymph nodes with cancer.
• Chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of fast neutron radiation therapy to the tumor.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.

If the cancer is high-grade, treatment may include the following:

• Surgery with or without lymphadenectomy. Radiation therapy may also be given after surgery.
• Fast neutron radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
• A clinical trial of radiation therapy and/or radiosensitizers.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage III salivary gland cancer.

Treatment of stage IV salivary gland cancer may include the following:

• Fast neutron or photon-beam radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage IV salivary gland cancer.

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