The landscape of gene fusions and somatic mutations in salivary gland neoplasms – Implications for diagnosis and therapy

•Salivary gland neoplasms show a specific gene fusion network.•The fusions are new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.•Subtypes of salivary neoplasms show hotspot mutations in specific genes and pathways.•The fusions and mutations are often oncogenic drivers and novel therapeutic targets.

SummaryRecent studies of the genomic landscape of salivary gland tumors have provided important insights into the molecular pathogenesis of these tumors. The most consistent alterations identified include a translocation-generated gene fusion network involving transcription factors, transcriptional coactivators, tyrosine kinase receptors, and other kinases. In addition, next-generation sequencing studies of a few subtypes of salivary neoplasms have revealed hotspot mutations in individual genes and mutations clustering to specific pathways frequently altered in cancer. Although limited, these studies have opened up new avenues for improved classification and targeted therapies of salivary gland cancers. In this review, we summarize the latest developments in this field, focusing on tumor types for which clinically important molecular data are available.