Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cancer in Albania. Gastric cancer has a 5-year survival rate as low as 30%. The expression of HER2 in gastric cancer has brought a new alternative treatment for patients. Materials and method: 192 patients were analyzed retrospectively, with primary GCs for HER2 overexpression by IHC and Dual SISH in equivocal cases. This was compared with the results of HER2 in gastric patients in surgical specimens and endoscopic biopsies and there is a correlation between gender, age, stage, and type of the histopathologic gastric cancer diagnosis. Results: Examinations were made by immunohistochemistry for HER2 in 73.4% (141 cases) of surgical specimens and 26.5% of endoscopic biopsies: 18.4% (26 cases) and 15.7% (8 cases) were HER2 3+, respectively. HER2 overexpression (3+) was detected in 17.7% (34 cases). HER2 Equivocal (2+) was detected in 24.5% (47 cases). 17.8%, 14%, and 4.7% were respectively intestinal type, diffuse, signet ring, and the rest adenocarcinoma NOS. GC prevailed in the group aged 61-70 yrs. (31.70%), followed by 51-60 yrs. (25%), 22.9% in 71-80-yrs. 20 cases analyzed by SISH, showed HER2 amplification in 40% (8cases). Economical restrictions and problems with the preanalytical phase made it impossible to evaluate by SISH all 20 cases. Conclusion: 17.7% of Albanian patients with primary GC were HER2-positive on IHC. There is no difference in biopsy and surgical specimen results. Economic restrictions can influence the results.

Background; Metastatic breast cancer is a burden on healthcare worldwide. Despite the progress made in early diagnosis and adjuvant treatment of breast cancer again about 30% of patients develop metastases in the course of their disease. Also, there is a percentage of patients where the disease presents in metastatic stage. Real-world data may provide valuable information on the effectiveness and safety of medicines, which is particularly relevant for clinicians, patients and third-party payers. Materials and methods; We have collected data from 63 patients at Mother Teresa Hospital receiving Palbociclib since June 2016 until October 2019. Patients aged≥18 years, diagnosed with ABC and exposed to Palbociclib plus Fulvestrant. Patients were followed-up until death… Results; A total of 63 patients were included. Median age was 66 years (range 28–78) and 99.05% were female. Median follow-up time was 26.42 months… Conclusion; Palbociclib plus Lulvestrant seems an effective treatment for ABC in real-world context. Compared to registrations studies, as in the world practice, these medications are first line treatments in Albania as well, constituting a significant achievement in the fight against breast cancer

Background: Colorectal cancer is the third most deadly cancer and the fourth most frequent in the world according to GLOBOCAN 2018. The number of new cases is growing up, which may also be related to lifestyle. Many studies have shown a difference in the number of males and females, correlation of localization, stage, and grade with prognosis. Material and Methods: In our study were included operated cases with colorectal cancer in University Hospital Center “Mother Theresa” during the period from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2017. In our study, the total number of patients enrolled is 334. In the end was evaluated the correlation between histological grade, stage, and localization with prognosis. Results: From the study resulted that males were affected more than females by colorectal cancer. The average age of diagnosis of colorectal cancer is 63.9 (±12.4) years. Moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, histological grade II and pathological stage pT3N0Mx after TNM are predominant. The commonest localization is the rectum. Disease-free survival is better in stages I and IIa than in other stages, least favorable in poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Conclusion: In Albania, patients diagnosed with CRC showed a low survival rate specific to cancer. The type of histology, the stage of cancer, the level of CEA at diagnosis, and the type of treatment a patient received significantly determine the mortality rate. Therefore, cancer screening programs can help to detect the disease at an early stage and initiate timely available treatments in order to extend the life expectancy of CRC patients.