By using mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the major salivary glands as the test model, I strongly suggest that a reproducible (three-tiered) grading system and measurements of proliferation (nuclear markers: proliferating cell nuclear antigen and, possibly, Ki-67; and proliferation fraction as determined by flow cytometry) can serve as cellular/molecular factors worthy of inclusion in existing clinical staging systems of salivary gland neoplasms.