In this study, we describe a novel mouse model of salivary gland cancer initiation (MMTV-LMW-E; p53+/; CDK2−/−) driven by the low-molecular-weight forms of cyclin E (LMW-E), the oncogenic properties of which have been reported by our group in both preclinical models and in patient samples, reviewed in ref. 12. Here, CDK2 is linked to salivary gland cancer.