Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare type of cancer that can exist in many different body sites.

It is the third-most common malignant salivary gland tumor overall (after mucoepidermoid carcinoma and polymorphous adenocarcinoma).

Activation of the oncogenic transcription factor gene MYB is the key genomic event of ACC and seen in the vast majority of cases.

ACC has a relatively quiet genome with few recurrent copy number alterations or point mutations,[6][10][11][12] consistent with the view that MYB and MYBL1 are the main oncogenic drivers of the disease.

For advanced major and minor salivary gland tumors that are inoperable, recurrent, or exhibit gross residual disease after surgery, fast neutron therapy is widely regarded as the most effective form of treatment.