Incidence and clinical relevance of T(11;19) translocation in salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) harbors a recurring t(11;19) translocation with an associated novel fusion oncogene-MECT1-MAML2. The CRTC1-MAML2oncogene disrupts normal cell-cycle and differentiation, contributing to tumor development. The objectives of this study were to establish the incidence of CRTC1-MAML2 fusion in Serbian patients and estimate its relevance as a genetic marker of MEC behavior. In this retrospective study, 20 cases of MEC of salivary glands were tested for the presence of CRTC1-MAML2 fusion using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Clinicopathological parameters and survival data were examined in relation to fusion status. The CRTC1-MAML2 fusion was detected in 40% of MECs and its presence was associated exclusively with low-intermediate grade tumor histology (P = 0.02) and favorable clinical outcome, with 100 % overall survival rate (P=0.046). The study has shown that the presence of the CRTC1-MAML2 fusion can serve as an additional diagnostic and prognostic marker for mucoepidermoid carcinomas.