Research and clinical trials
Salivary gland cancer is rare and there are many different types. It is difficult to do research and carry out trials in a rare type of cancer as there may not be enough people with the same cancer type to join a trial. In this situation, researchers and doctors might organise a trial that recruits people from different countries.
Go to Cancer Research UK’s clinical trials database if you are looking for a trial for salivary gland cancer in the UK. You need to talk to your specialist if there are any trials that you think you might be able to take part in.
When in the trials database, you can use the filters on the left to see open trials, those that are closed to recruitment and trials that have results.
Some of the trials on this page have now stopped recruiting people. It takes time before the results are available. This is because the trial team follow the patients for a period of time and collect and analyse the results. We have included this ongoing research to give examples of salivary gland cancer research.
All cancer treatments must be fully researched before everyone can use them. This is so we can be sure that:
they work
they work better than the treatments already available
they are safe
Doctors have been looking at using new and different scans for people with head and neck cancer during treatment, which includes looking at:
whether a combined PET-CT scan might give a better idea than other scans of how well the treatment is working
testing new MRI imaging and new ways to analyse the images
measuring the growth of blood vessels using a PET-CT scan and a PET- MR scan
Targeted cancer drugs are drugs which change the way that the cells work. They can boost the body’s immune system to fight off or kill cancer cells. Or they can block signals that tell cancer cells to grow.
There are different types of targeted cancer drugs and immunotherapies. For salivary gland cancer, researchers are looking at:
entrectinib
larotrectinib
trastuzumab
pertuzumab
selpercatinib
dabrafenib
trametinib
pembrolizumab
Read more about targeted drugs and immunotherapy
Researchers are looking at a new drug called tigilanol tigate. It is for people with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer. The researchers inject the drug directly into the cancer. They want to see if it kills the cancer cells and to find out more about the side effects.
Treatment for head and neck cancer can sometimes cause side effects that are difficult to cope with. Researchers are looking at ways to relieve the side effects of treatment. And find out how they can best support people with salivary gland cancer.
It’s common for people with salivary gland cancer to have mouth problems caused by their cancer or the treatment. Researchers are looking at ways of preventing or improving symptoms such as:
dry mouth (xerostomia)
painful mouth (mucositis)
(difficulty opening your mouth (trismus)
Researchers want to develop a computer tool to predict a person’s risk of getting long term side effects. To do this, researchers are asking patients to fill in a questionnaire to record their side effects following radiotherapy.
Then in the future, they want to develop a computer tool that can predict a person’s risk of getting side effects. Doctors hope it will help patients and improve care in the future.
Our clinical trials database has information about UK clinical trials for salivary gland cancer and summaries of trial results.
Last reviewed: 16 May 2023
Next review due: 16 May 2026
Treatment for salivary gland cancer depends on where the cancer is, the size, whether it has spread anywhere else and your health.
Getting practical and emotional support can help you to cope with a diagnosis of salivary gland cancer. It can also help you with life during and after treatment.
Our clinical trials aim to find out if a new treatment or procedure is safe, is better than the current treatment or helps you feel better.
Salivary gland cancer can start in any of the glands that make spit (saliva). As well as 3 major pairs of salivary glands we have over 600 smaller, minor salivary glands throughout the lining of the mouth and throat.
There are many cancer drugs, cancer drug combinations and they have individual side effects.
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Search our clinical trials database for all cancer trials and studies recruiting in the UK.
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