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Gene Causing Breast Cancer In Nigerian Women Identified

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A multinational research team has identified the genes responsible for inherited breast cancer in Nigerian women, according to the study published in the August 21, 2018 issue of the Journal for Clinical Oncology.

“This is the first study to use high-throughput genomic analysis of African women,” said study author Olufunmilayo Olopade, MD, Walter L. Palmer, Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics and Director of the Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics and Associate Dean for Global Health at the University of Chicago.

“Based on state-of-the-art genomic technologies, two things were clear,” added co-author Mary-Claire King, PhD, American Cancer Society Professor of Medicine and Genome Sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle. “Risks to Nigerian women who carry mutations in breast cancer genes are higher than risks to women in the U.S. with mutations in the same genes. And inherited breast cancer plays a bigger role in the total occurrence of breast cancer in Nigeria compared to the U.S.”

According to a report by www.news-medical.net, the study enrolled 1,136 women with invasive breast cancer and 997 controls, women of similar ages and heritage who did not have breast cancer.

The disease was far more advanced at diagnosis than in the US, with 86 per cent of the patients who were fully evaluated diagnosed at either stage 3 or stage 4.

Almost half (46 per cent) of the patients were diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer (tumours that lack estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptors).

This is an aggressive breast cancer subtype, likely to have a poor prognosis, even in wealthy countries.

For their study of “Inherited Breast Cancer in Nigerian Women,” the authors sequenced 25 genes associated with increased risk of breast cancer and identified all damaging mutations in each of those genes.

They found that one out of eight breast cancers in the study was caused by an inherited mutation in one of four of these genes.

Mutations in BRCA1 (7 per cent of patients) and BRCA2 (4 per cent) were the most common, followed by PALB2 (1 per cent) and TP53 (0.4 per cent).

Patients with BRCA1 or TP53 mutations were diagnosed at younger ages than women with other mutations.

The mean age at diagnosis for all cases in the study was 47.5 years, but the BRCA1 carriers were diagnosed at an average age of 42.6 years.

Patients with TP53 mutations were diagnosed even earlier, at an average age of 32.8 years.

“Genomic sequencing to identify women at extremely high risk of breast cancer could be a highly innovative approach to tailored risk management and life-saving interventions,” the authors wrote. Given the limited treatment resources available in this setting, “prevention and early detection services should target these highest-risk women.”

Following up on the study, the Chicago-Ibadan team has already developed a risk-prediction model for breast cancer in Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African women, who are, on average, more than 10 years younger when diagnosed than American women.

This predictive model can identify individuals at high risk of breast cancer, tailor surveillance and suggest risk-reduction strategies.

There is an urgent need to address “widening global disparities in breast cancer mortality that disproportionately impact women of African ancestry,” the authors wrote.

Breast cancer among both African American and Nigerian women is more frequently triple-negative than in other populations for complex reasons that remain poorly understood.

Given the young ages at diagnosis in Nigeria, focusing on genetically high-risk women could, the authors suggest “substantially reduce premature mortality from breast cancer.”

“It may seem paradoxical to apply the most recent technology in severely resource-limited settings,” the authors add, “but in fact, the solution fits the problem… Women with an extremely high risk of breast cancer due to mutations in these genes can be identified inexpensively and unambiguously, and offered interventions to reduce cancer risk.”

“Coordinating our team of clinicians and scientists and community elders in Nigeria was no small feat, but we got the job done despite resource constraints,” said Adeyinka Falusi, PhD Professor of Hematology and L’OREAL/UNESCO Laureate, Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training in the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.

“As the premier institution in Nigeria, the University of Ibadan remains committed to deploying science and technology to improve the health of Africans on the continent and throughout the diaspora,” Falusi said. “Lessons learned in Nigeria can be transferred back to low resource settings in the US and other countries.

African and African American women are more likely than women of other ancestries to develop and to die from triple-negative breast cancer.

The Nigerian Breast Cancer Study, based in Ibadan, South West Nigeria, has been in the field for more than 20 years.

During this period, breast cancer incidence throughout the country has steadily increased.

BIG STORY

NOVA Bank Achieves Global Cybersecurity Milestone With ISO 27032 Certification

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NOVA Bank has achieved a major milestone in its commitment to safeguarding customer data and digital operations by attaining the globally recognized ISO 27032 Cybersecurity Standard certification. This significant achievement positions NOVA Bank among the elite financial institutions in Nigeria with such a distinction.

The ISO 27032 certification focuses on fortifying cybersecurity measures, ensuring robust protection for data, systems, and online transactions amid an ever-evolving cyber threat landscape. In addition to this achievement, NOVA Bank is already certified in ISO 27001 for Information Security Management and BCMS 22301 for Business Continuity Management, further underscoring its dedication to operational excellence and security.

Speaking on the achievement, Acting Managing Director and CEO of NOVA Bank, Mrs. Chinwe Iloghalu, described the certification as a pivotal moment for the Bank and its customers.

“This certification underscores NOVA Bank’s unwavering dedication to maintaining the highest global standards in cybersecurity. As we continue to innovate with customer-centric retail products, cybersecurity remains at the heart of our operations. Our customers can rest assured that their data and transactions are protected by some of the most advanced security frameworks in the industry. Trust is built on security, and NOVA is committed to providing a secure, reliable, and innovative banking experience,” Mrs Iloghalu stated. The Bank’s Executive Director for Operations and Information Technology, Dr. David Isavwe, who also serves as the President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Information Security Society of Africa, Nigeria (ISSAN), emphasized the broader implications of the certification.

“The ISO 27032 certification highlights NOVA Bank’s proactive approach to addressing cybersecurity challenges. It demonstrates our readiness to protect against evolving threats and our ability to adapt to the dynamic landscape of digital banking. This certification reinforces our commitment to delivering secure and uninterrupted services to our valued customers,” Dr. Isavwe remarked.

This milestone aligns with NOVA Bank’s overarching strategy of integrating cutting-edge technology with its trademarked Phygital model—seamlessly blending physical and digital banking experiences, while maintaining an unwavering focus on customer trust and satisfaction.

As the bank prepares to launch a series of innovative retail banking products, this certification highlights its dedication to prioritizing cybersecurity, ensuring a secure and seamless banking experience for all its customers.

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JUST IN: Customs Hands Over 21 Stolen Vehicles To Canadian Government

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The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has transferred 21 stolen “Sport Utility Vehicles” (SUVs) and other assorted vehicles to the Canadian Government, following their recovery from various locations across the country.

 

More to come…

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BIG STORY

Former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello Now In Our Custody — EFCC

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has been detained in the agency’s custody for allegedly misappropriating over N110 billion in public funds.

The EFCC stated that the former governor appeared at its headquarters after months of ignoring invitations and avoiding court summons related to fraud connected to his administration.

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, on Tuesday said that Bello had been detained and would be questioned about the allegations against him.

According to reports, Bello responded to the EFCC’s invitation on Tuesday, arriving at the EFCC office with his lawyers, but without his successor, Governor Usman Ododo, who had reportedly been shielding him from arrest.

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