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 ¹. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site ².

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 ³. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site ².

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 ⁴. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site ².

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 ⁵. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site ².

Glossary Terms

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. Also called clinical study.

A type of radiation therapy that uses tiny particles called neutrons made by a machine called a cyclotron.

When referring to cancerous and precancerous growths, a term used to describe cells that look abnormal under a microscope. These cells are more likely to grow and spread quickly than cells in low-grade cancerous and precancerous growths.

Treatment that affects cells in the tumor and the area close to it.

When referring to cancerous and precancerous growths, a term used to describe cells that look nearly normal under a microscope. These cells are less likely to grow and spread quickly than cells in high-grade cancerous or precancerous growths.

A rounded mass of lymphatic tissue that is surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue. Lymph nodes filter lymph (lymphatic fluid), and they store lymphocytes (white blood cells). They are located along lymphatic vessels. Also called lymph gland.

A surgical procedure in which the lymph nodes are removed and examined to see whether they contain cancer. For a regional lymphadenectomy, some of the lymph nodes in the tumor area are removed; for a radical lymphadenectomy, most or all of the lymph nodes in the tumor area are removed. Also called lymph node dissection.

Treatment given to relieve the symptoms and reduce the suffering caused by cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Palliative cancer therapies are given together with other cancer treatments, from the time of diagnosis, through treatment, survivorship, recurrent or advanced disease, and at the end of life.

A type of radiation therapy that reaches deep tumors with high-energy x-rays made by a machine called a linear accelerator.

The overall enjoyment of life. Many clinical trials assess the effects of cancer and its treatment on the quality of life. These studies measure aspects of an individual’s sense of well-being and ability to carry out various activities.

The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body. Also called irradiation and radiotherapy.

A drug that makes tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy.

The extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer, and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

Cancer that is 2 centimeters or less in diameter and has not spread outside the salivary gland.

Cancer that is larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 4 centimeters in diameter and has not spread outside the salivary gland.

In stage III salivary gland cancer, (1) the tumor is not larger than 4 centimeters and has spread to a single lymph node on the same side of the body as the tumor and the lymph node is 3 centimeters or smaller; or (2) the tumor is larger than 4 centimeters and/or has spread to soft tissue around the affected gland; cancer may have spread to a single lymph node on the same side as the tumor and the lymph node is 3 centimeters or smaller.

Stage IV salivary gland cancer is divided into stages IVA, IVB, and IVC. In stage IVA, (1) cancer has spread to one or more lymph nodes on either or both sides of the body and the lymph nodes are not larger than 6 centimeters; the tumor may be any size and may have spread to soft tissue around the affected gland; or (2) cancer has spread to the skin, jawbone, ear canal, and/or facial nerve, and may have spread to one or more lymph nodes on either or both sides of the body; the lymph nodes are not larger than 6 centimeters. In stage IVB, (1) cancer has spread to a lymph node larger than 6 centimeters; the tumor may be any size and may have spread to soft tissue around the affected gland; or (2) cancer has spread to the base of the skull and/or the carotid artery, and may have spread to one or more lymph nodes of any size on either or both sides of the body. In stage IVC, cancer has spread to distant parts of the body.

A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.

An indication that a person has a condition or disease. Some examples of symptoms are headache, fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and pain.

An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors may be benign (not cancer), or malignant (cancer). Also called neoplasm.