ENS@T

European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors – ENS@T was founded in 2009 to promote research on adrenal tumors. Its target is to improve the understanding of the pathophysiology and natural progression, as well as the diagnostic and therapeutic treatment of adrenal tumors and adrenal hormone excess.

History

The network was informally founded in 2002. It originally consisted of four founding partners: COMETE (Cortical and Medullary Endocrine Tumors), GANIMED (German Network for Adrenal Gland Diseases for the Improvement of Research and Teaching), NISGAT (National Italian Study Group for Adrenal Tumors), and UK ACT (UK AdrenoCortical Tumor Network). Xavier Bertagna from France assumed the chairmanship.

Between 2002 and 2008, common quality criteria were defined, which are a mandatory prerequisite for the implementation and execution of quality strategies and are based on scientific findings and experience. Furthermore, clinical databases were created that document cases of aldosterone-producing and non-aldosterone-producing adrenocortical adenomas, adrenocortical carcinomas, as well as pheochromocytomas or paragangliomas. Four working groups were also established:

• Aldosterone-producing adenoma
• Non-aldosterone-producing adenoma
• Adrenocortical carcinoma
• Pheochromocytoma

The inaugural general assembly took place in Paris on May 15, 2009.

Targets

Due to the fact that adrenal tumors are rare, progress in their diagnosis and treatment is only possible through collaboration between researchers and clinicians from different countries. To overcome these challenges and enable significant progress for affected patients, a Europe-wide network for adrenal tumors (ENS@T) was established. ENS@T aims to improve the understanding of the genetics, genesis of tumors, and hormone overproduction in patients with adrenal tumors and associated familial syndromes. It seeks to optimize the prediction of recurrence and the treatment of malignant adrenal tumors, which are particularly rare. Research into adrenal tumors is expected to uncover new molecular mechanisms of tumor growth and provide insights into the role of hormones in causing high blood pressure (hypertension). To this end, ENS@T pools expertise and resources to achieve significant advances in basic and clinical research, thereby promoting the translation of basic research into clinical practice and contributing to the fight against adrenal tumors.

The network will operate as a non-profit, transnational platform to improve the dissemination of research material on adrenal tumors and optimize standards for diagnosis and treatment.

To achieve these goals, ENS@T collaborates with the A5 American Australian Asian Adrenal Alliance.

Organization

The governing bodies of ENS@T include the General Assembly, the executive board, and an advisory board. The network's scientific activities are divided among four working groups, each one with an operative Scientific Board.

In addition, the ENS@T Registry is operated. Its target is to include as many patients suffering from adrenal tumors as possible in the registry. The data are initially used to answer various statistical questions. Furthermore, the data can also be used to compare the effectiveness of different forms of therapy.

External links

• https://www.aio-portal.de/studie/10--ensat.html - Arbeitsgemeinschaft Internistische Onkologie in der Deutschen Krebsgesellschaft e.V. (engl. Working Group for Internal Oncology in the German Cancer Society e.V.)
• https://www.endokrinologie.net/sektion-nebenniere-steroide-hypertonie-1.php – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Endokrinologie - Sektion Nebenniere, Steroide und Hypertonie - ENS@T-Initiative (engl. German Society for Endocrinology - Section Adrenal Gland, Steroids and Hypertension - ENS@T Initiative)
• https://www.esmo.org/ ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology)
• Current and future therapeutic strategies for metastatic ACC (AdrenoCortical Carcinomas) (Video with Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Martin Fassnacht, University Clinic, Wuerzburg)
• Application of mitotane therapy in ACC, AdrenoCortical Carcinomas (Video with Prof. Massimo Terzolo, University of Turin)
• European Society of Endocrinology clinical practice guidelines on the management of adrenal incidentalomas, in collaboration with the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors (European Journal of Endocrinology, Volume 189, Issue 1, July 2023, Pages G1–G42)
• European Society of Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of adrenocortical carcinoma in adults, in collaboration with the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors (European Journal of Endocrinology. 2018 Oct 1;179(4):G1-G46. doi: 10.1530/EJE-18-0608.)
• ERN / Endo ERN Existing networks or registries and biobanks (Adrenal (MTG1) / Existing networks)
• European Society of Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guideline on the management of Adrenal Incidentalomas, in collaboration with the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors (ESE Clinical Practice Guideline on the management of Adrenal Incidentalomas, in collaboration with the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors)
• European Society of Endocrine Surgeons (ESES) and European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumours (ENSAT) recommendations for the surgical management of adrenocortical carcinoma (BJS, Volume 104, Issue 4, March 2017, Pages 358–376)
• ENSAT registry-based randomized clinical trials for adrenocortical carcinoma (Eur J Endocrinol. 2021 Feb;184(2):R51-R59. doi: 10.1530/EJE-20-0800.)