Presentation of the Centre

Founded in 1935, Saint Savvas Oncology Hospital is the first Institution in Greece exclusively dedicated to cancer treatment and care. As a public entity since 1991, St Savas Hospital has become a cornerstone in the fight against cancer, providing comprehensive services in prevention, research, diagnosis and treatment.

Main Research Activities

Saint Savvas Hospital participates in national and EU-funded research projects, involving translational, preclinical and clinical studies. The hospital has initiated phase I and II clinical trials for the active immunotherapy of patients with various types of cancer. Its Biobank, stores over 500 human biological specimens linked to detailed clinicopathological data.
The hospital houses advanced infrastructure including:

• Cancer Genomics/Transcriptomics: Genomics and transcriptomics platforms for novel biomarker and drug discovery.
• Cell Imaging: Advanced microscopic techniques and image analysis for cellular studies.
• Flow Cytometry and cell-sorting: for immune phenotyping and diagnostics.
• Biostatistics: Analysis of genomic/transcriptomic data using advanced software.
• Cellular and Molecular Laboratory: For the analyses of mechanistic pathways and signal transduction in the frame of translational research.

Education

Saint Savvas Hospital is committed to knowledge dissemination through its educational programs led by its scientific and administrative teams. These initiatives will focus on advanced biomedical and clinical research, health care quality, and public health policies.

Presentation of the Centre

The General Cancer Hospital of Piraeus “METAXA” is managed by the National Health System of Greece, and it is a public law entity supervised and funded by the Greek Ministry of Health. The core competence of “METAXA” is to promote, raise and coordinate high quality care, diagnosis and treatment to all Greek patients regardless of the racial, social, and financial status. We seek to operate as a modern Oncology Hospital that fully meets the needs of its patients and provides specialized services of primary, secondary and tertiary health care to the oncology patient.

Core Facilities

Our cornerstone is the improvement of the functionality of the Hospital through the implementation of quality systems for the modernization of the provided services such as:

• DA VINCI robotic surgery system. We are the only public hospital in Greece that has a Da Vinci robotic system.
• Quality Management System: A Quality Management System, adapted to the requirements of the International Standard ISO 9001:2015, in the following departments: Blood donation unit, Day care unit, Homecare Clinic, Emergency department, Radiology department and administrative admission office. Within the first trimester of 2024 is scheduled the installation of ISO 15224:2017 in: Gastroenterological Endoscopy Clinic, Department of Oncology Megatherapy, Hematology Clinic, Surgical Clinic, Department of Anesthesiology
• Investigation trials and studies: For the year 2023 had been carried out 28 investigation trials and studies.

Presentation of the Centre

The Hellenic Cancer Federation (ELLOK) is a patient-led non-profit organization with 50 members of Cancer Patient Associations, representing various cancers and regions of the country, with a comprehensive understanding of the diverse landscape of cancer care in Greece.

The organisation's overarching aim is to realise a vision of comprehensive, timely, and affordable cancer care for all patients, encompassing stellar diagnosis, treatment, psycho-social support, and survivorship care, which extends to rehabilitation and seamless reintegration into social life.

ELLOK's mission is a testament to its commitment to advocating for cancer policy and research, working in tandem with its members and partners to champion the individual and collective rights of cancer patients to high-quality healthcare. By joining forces with stakeholders, ELLOK endeavors to influence policy decisions and contribute to the shift from evidence-based to value-based cancer care.

ELLOK's multifaceted approach extends beyond its national focus, as it actively participates in EU-funded research projects aiming to bridge the gap between researchers and patients, fostering a collaborative environment where the lived experiences of individuals with cancer inform and shape the trajectory of scientific exploration.

The overarching aim of ELLOK is to advocate for improved cancer care and actively contribute to advancing knowledge and methodologies in the field. ELLOK promotes patient involvement in research, fostering a paradigm where patients are not passive recipients of care but active contributors to the scientific discourse surrounding cancer.