Nadya El-Afandi was nearing the end of breast cancer treatment when she received earth-shattering news: Doctors had diagnosed her with glioblastoma, a rapidly growing and aggressive brain tumor. Typically, people diagnosed with glioblastoma die within 12 to 18 months, even with aggressive treatment options. Patients over the age of 60 usually die within six to nine months. El-Afandi was 59 when she was diagnosed in June 2023, putting her right on the edge of that poorer prognosis. "I was still taking chemo, but my breast cancer doctor said 'You don't have to keep taking that anymore, and you don't have to come in for any more breast exams,'" El-Afandi said. "He didn't say it, but what I figured he was saying was 'The glioblastoma will kill you before breast cancer.'" A week after the diagnosis, El-Afandi underwent surgery to remove the tumor. This is standard for glioblastoma treatment, but even after surgery, there's usually cancerous cells left behind because of the way the tumors grow in the brain. That's part of why the mortality rate for glioblastoma is so high, according to Dr. William Breen, a radiation oncologist with the Mayo Clinic and no relation to the author of this article. Even the most skilled neurosurgeon can't remove all of the microscopic cells, and other treatments like radiation and chemotherapy tend to have diminishing returns when treating glioblastoma. Two new trials are working to find possible new answers. Both are led by doctors at the Mayo Clinic. One just completed its second phase and found that pairing advanced imaging with a targeted form of radiation therapy increased the average lifespan of older glioblastoma patients by several months. The second is underway and aims to study two options for radiation treatment, as paired with advanced imaging options. El-Afandi enrolled in that second trial — and after several nail-biting months, her scans are coming back clear and she's on vacation in Hawaii. "Helping other people has always been a part of what I try and do, so the idea that this crappy thing that happened, that something good can come out of it? I'm really happy about that," El-Afandi, now 61, said. A "very promising approach" to treating glioblastoma The results of the first study were published earlier this week in the Lancet Oncology medical journal . The study, led by Dr. Sujay Vora, the chair of the radiation oncology department at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, examined how proton beam radiation, paired with advanced imaging and a cancer medication called temozolomide, could treat glioblastomas in patients ages 65 and up. Typically, radiation treatment uses photon beams. In proton beam radiation, the effect is more targeted, allowing more healthy tissue to be spared, Vora explained. This, paired with more advanced imaging, allowed doctors to better target the glioblastoma. Patients in the trial also had fewer radiation treatment sessions than is typical, with a higher dose of radiation being used. Typically, radiation treatments are done daily for six weeks, but in this trial, patients had daily sessions for just five or 10 days. The goal was to see how the 39 patients enrolled in the trial did compared with the average 6- to 9-month survival rate. What happened was "a little bit better than what we expected," Vora said. On average, patients enrolled in the trial survived for 13 months. A subpopulation of patients more sensitive to the effects of radiation and chemotherapy lived 22 months. Patients also reported a higher quality of life during this time. "All in all, it's a very promising approach," said Dr. Akila Viswanathan, who chairs the radiation oncology department at Johns Hopkins, who was not involved in the clinical trial. "It is much easier for patients to come in for just five treatments than to come in every single day for six weeks. It's a very positive approach, from the patient's perspective, for quality of life. I think that these are very promising results." Future studies and development While Vora's trial was promising, the methodology proposed is far from becoming standard of care for treating older glioblastoma patients, according to Dr. Helen Shih, the medical director of the proton therapy program at Mass General Brigham. Larger studies must be done, and researchers will need to determine which change to the standard of care made the difference for patients. Proton beam therapy and some of the imaging options are also not accessible to large swaths of the population: Shih said there are only 48 centers that do proton beam radiation treatment in the United States. Meanwhile, there are thousands of centers capable of doing the standard photon beam treatment. The study did find that about 10% of the patients experienced a symptom called radiation necrosis, when the treatment creates dead tissue. Most of those patients were treated with steroids, Vora said, and one patient had to have the necrotic tissue surgically removed. But none of the patients were hospitalized or died from the condition, he said. Radiation necrosis also occurs with normal radiation treatments, but the higher doses of radiation and the shorter timeline for the treatment may explain why the rate was higher, said Viswanathan. Ongoing research to "build upon the work" A second trial, also through the Mayo Clinic, aims to "build upon the work" of Vora's trial, said Breen. The trial is aiming to enroll about 170 patients across Minnesota, Florida and Arizona. It again uses advanced imaging techniques to target the brain more precisely. Patients are given either the shorter proton radiation cycle or a longer course of more traditional photon radiation, to determine if the shorter course of radiation is equally safe and equally effective as the traditional six weeks of the treatment, Breen said. No matter which radiation is used, the imaging technology allows doctors to treat "a tighter, smaller area of the brain," Breen said. The trial is underway, and Breen said that results will likely be available in about three years. After her surgery in June 2023, El-Afandi was offered the opportunity to enroll in the trial. She underwent six weeks of radiation with the standard photon treatment. She said she felt tired during that period but was used to some of the side effects from her experience with breast cancer. "It never stopped me," El-Afandi said. "I just continued to garden and sit on my porch and have visitors come and hang out with me." In her first follow-up appointments, doctors observed inflammation at spots in her brain. After her third scan in August 2024, the scan looked "great and clear," El-Afandi said, with no signs of glioblastoma or inflammation over a year after she was first diagnosed with the condition. Breen, who was involved in El-Afandi's care, added that her "scans look great," describing her current health and quality of life as an "ideal scenario" for someone treated for glioblastoma. Every three months, El-Afandi has a new set of imaging done to monitor for any glioblastoma growth, but in the meantime, she is spending time with her husband and four children and "going on adventures" as a family, she said. "I'm 17 months out (from diagnosis) and feeling great," she told CBS News, from the Hawaiian catamaran where she was doing her snorkeling expedition. "Every day is a gift." Cancer Research Mayo Clinic Cancer Brain Cancer Kerry Breen is a news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University's Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News' TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use.
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that Nigerians will now be required to pay for the newly introduced multipurpose national identity card. According to Peter Iwegbu, NIMC’s head of card management services, this decision stems from the federal government’s limited revenue, which makes it challenging to fund the production of the cards. The announcement was made during a two-day press conference in Lagos. Iwegbu explained that charging for the cards aims to ensure that only individuals who truly need them will request them, thereby reducing waste. Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 16 (Feb 10 – May 3, 2025 ) opens registrations; register today for early bird discounts. Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations here. Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and i nvest in Africa’s finest startups here . “Before we stopped due to funding, we produced more than two million cards, but a lot of them are still in our office because people didn’t need them,” he said. This move also seeks to address inefficiencies observed in previous attempts to distribute free identity cards, where many remained uncollected. To make the process more convenient, NIMC is collaborating with banks across the country. Nigerians can visit any participating bank to request and pick up their cards. Additionally, special provisions have been made for less privileged individuals who cannot afford the card but require it for essential government services. Lanre Yusuf, director of information technology at NIMC, highlighted this effort, stating, “The government has implemented programmes to make the card accessible to less privileged Nigerians who cannot afford it but require it to access government support.” The new ID card, described as a “post-paid identity card,” will serve multiple purposes, including identity verification, payments, and access to government services. The card is powered by AfriGO in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System. Yusuf confirmed that sample test cards had already been received, suggesting the card’s readiness for rollout. The initiative is part of a broader federal government strategy to digitize identification and streamline access to services across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). However, there is growing concern that the decision to charge for the cards could lead to public apathy. Some argue that requiring payment could deter many Nigerians, especially those already facing economic hardship, from obtaining the card. This could undermine the government’s goal of broadening access to identification services. Experts also warn that apathy could mirror the challenges of past distribution efforts, where over two million cards produced for free remained uncollected. Charging for the cards, they say, risks exacerbating this trend, particularly in rural areas where disposable income is limited, and the perceived need for the card may be low. While NIMC has justified the fees as a necessary response to limited government funding, the policy raises questions about its alignment with inclusivity goals. To combat potential apathy, experts suggest increasing public awareness of the card’s multipurpose functionality and its benefits, such as facilitating payments and access to government services. These features, they note, could incentivize more people to view the card as an essential tool rather than an optional expense. While the initiative aims to reduce waste and improve efficiency, the government has been urged to address public skepticism and economic barriers to ensure widespread adoption. How this policy is received will likely set the tone for future reforms in national identification and other public service programs.
No. 22 St. John's, Georgia pack busy schedule with game on SundayGetafe scored twice in three minutes midway through the second half to beat struggling Valladolid 2-0 and record only their second win in La Liga. The victory ended Getafe's five-game winless run and lifted them into 15th place in the 20-team standings. Valladolid remain second from bottom. In the buildup to the match, Getafe sporting director Rubén Reyes described the game as a final, but his team was lucky not to go behind as Valladolid created more of the early chances. However, the home side took control in the 69th minute when substitute Álvaro Rodríguez got the opener. Three minutes later, man-of-the-match Allan Nyom made it 2-0. "There's been a lot of games where we've run and fought but lost or drawn," Nyom, the veteran Cameroon full back, said. "A game that reflects the effort we've put in in training is very welcome." Adding to Valladolid's woes, coach Paulo Pezzolano was sent off before half-time. The Uruguayan has the league's worst disciplinary record, with seven yellow cards before Friday's red.
Indian-Americans Condemn Racist Attacks On Trump's Appointee Sriram KrishnanMike Ashley's Frasers tells Boohoo to axe Mahmud Kamani and give tycoon top job
Antonio Pierce: Chiefs vs. Raiders is best team in football vs. worst team in football - NBC SportsUCLA coach DeShaun Foster says performance coach apologized to team after penalty
Rui Avelar Sells 2,252 Shares of Evolus, Inc. (NASDAQ:EOLS) Stock
Elon Musk: 'F**k Yourself in the Face' if You Want to End H-1B VisasVikings withstand Bears' furious rally, win on field goal in OT
ASR Africa commences construction of N250 million Abdul Samad Rabiu Laboratory Complex at University of LagosB. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG bought a new stake in shares of Braze, Inc. ( NASDAQ:BRZE – Free Report ) in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 54,003 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,746,000. A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. KBC Group NV increased its stake in shares of Braze by 41.5% in the 3rd quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 2,097 shares of the company’s stock worth $68,000 after purchasing an additional 615 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Braze by 5.0% in the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 411,544 shares of the company’s stock worth $13,309,000 after purchasing an additional 19,567 shares in the last quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Braze by 14.4% in the 3rd quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 398,022 shares of the company’s stock worth $13,222,000 after purchasing an additional 50,113 shares in the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. increased its stake in shares of Braze by 7.6% in the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 27,181 shares of the company’s stock worth $879,000 after purchasing an additional 1,923 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SpiderRock Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Braze in the 3rd quarter worth $1,122,000. 90.47% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms have recently commented on BRZE. Oppenheimer reduced their price objective on Braze from $60.00 to $51.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, September 24th. DA Davidson reduced their price objective on Braze from $65.00 to $55.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, September 24th. JMP Securities reaffirmed a “market outperform” rating and issued a $68.00 target price on shares of Braze in a report on Tuesday, September 24th. UBS Group dropped their target price on shares of Braze from $56.00 to $51.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. Finally, Piper Sandler dropped their target price on shares of Braze from $51.00 to $40.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and nineteen have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $54.47. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, major shareholder Roger H. Lee sold 56,830 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.27, for a total value of $1,720,244.10. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 56,830 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,720,244.10. This represents a 50.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink . Also, insider Myles Kleeger sold 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.65, for a total transaction of $2,282,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 199,963 shares in the company, valued at $9,128,310.95. This trade represents a 20.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 190,479 shares of company stock valued at $7,148,911 in the last ninety days. 24.03% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Braze Trading Up 1.9 % Shares of NASDAQ:BRZE opened at $38.71 on Friday. Braze, Inc. has a 12 month low of $29.18 and a 12 month high of $61.53. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $32.92 and a 200 day moving average price of $37.48. The company has a market cap of $3.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -32.80 and a beta of 1.03. Braze ( NASDAQ:BRZE – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, September 5th. The company reported $0.09 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.03) by $0.12. Braze had a negative net margin of 22.01% and a negative return on equity of 25.89%. The firm had revenue of $145.50 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $141.32 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned ($0.30) EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 26.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Braze, Inc. will post -1.02 EPS for the current year. Braze Profile ( Free Report ) Braze, Inc operates a customer engagement platform that provides interactions between consumers and brands worldwide. The company offers Braze software development kits that automatically manage data ingestion and deliver mobile and web notifications, in-application/in-browser interstitial messages, and content cards; REST API that can be used to import or export data or to trigger workflows between Braze and brands' existing technology stacks; Partner Data Integrations, which allow brands to sync user cohorts from partners; Data Transformation, in which brands can programmatically sync and transform user data; and Braze Cloud Data Ingestion that enables brands to harness their customer data. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BRZE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Braze, Inc. ( NASDAQ:BRZE – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Braze Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Braze and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .