ENETs was held in Vienna at the Austria Centre from 22 – 24 March 2023. There were 850 attending the conference in person from all over the world and more were attending virtually.
Our CEO Meredith Cummins attended and stated it was a wonderful conference. There were fabulous opportunities to network and collaborate on projects such as patient education videos and nursing education, competencies, and INCA activities. Meredith presented to some of Ipsen’s Global team giving an overview of the PLANET Registry and the PLANET App, highlighting the benefits of PROMs during consultations and keeping a living diary.
NECA was co-authors of 2 posters – “Treatment Preferences for SSAs in NETs among patients, clinicians and nurses in Australia” and “Development of a novel NET nutrition screening tool to identify patients requiring nutrition-related intervention and support”.
The program was comprehensive and discussed diagnostic challenges and dilemmas in NETs which looked at pathology, biomarkers, imaging (including FDG PETs), and the matter of whether we should re-biopsy during the course of the disease.
Another session looked at NET emergencies – hormonal crises and management, mesenteric fibrosis, bone metastases, and the role of bisphosphonates and nutrition support – sarcopenia and malnutrition. Then becoming familiar with ENETs new guidance papers such as localised appendix NET 1-2cm and functioning pNET.
INCA / ENETs had a symposium that focused on working together to improve patient outcomes which included a patient story, “Think NENs educational program for GPs” and the aspiration of an Optimal Care Pathway. From our Australian perspective, it was very heartening to know that the education program and the Optimal Care Pathway have been achieved in Australia.
The afternoon session on Thursday presented on Mixed Neuroendocrine – Non-Neuroendocrine neoplasms – concepts, challenges, and treatment – the conclusion was that this, worldwide, is a difficult area. Then there were nutritional aspects of NETs – advanced GEPNETs and the obesity paradox of GEPNETs.
The final day of the conference covered new developments in systemic therapy of NETs including targeted and potential agents and also a nurses and dietitians symposium when Erin Laing was an invited speaker to ENETs and presented the Nutrition Screening tool, further discussion of sarcopenia in patients with NETs and an interesting case study with a panel discussion about a patient with complex nutritional needs.
ENETs is such a valuable conference that brings the world’s Multidisciplinary NET Healthcare Professionals together – to explore best practice, learn from each other and create opportunities to improve NET patient outcomes.
