Anthony Tolcher Joins Texas Oncology to Expand San Antonio Research Program

Anthony Tolcher, MD

Anthony Tolcher, MD

Internationally recognized cancer researcher Anthony Tolcher, MD, has joined Texas Oncology’s San Antonio Medical Center, where he will help develop and expand Texas Oncology’s current comprehensive research and clinical trials program.

“Texas Oncology’s pioneering approach to delivering high quality, innovative treatment to patients in communities, close to needed support, while also being committed to discovering new treatment breakthroughs perfectly aligns with my passion for research. I am excited to join this dedicated team of cancer fighters,” said Tolcher in a statement.

Tolcher is the co-founder of South Texas Accelerated Research Therapeutics (START), a front-runner in phase I medical oncology clinical trials, which expanded its presence to Taipei, Madrid, and Shanghai under his leadership. He previously served as director of clinical research at the Cancer Therapy and Research Center (CTRC) in San Antonio, and before that as associate director at the CTRC.

“At Texas Oncology, providing our patients access to the most advanced treatment is a priority, including participating in research and clinical trials. As a recognized leader in connecting patients to life saving treatment innovations, Dr Tolcher will be key to our commitment to growing the research program in our community-based practice,” said R. Steven Paulson, MD, chairman and president of Texas Oncology, in a statement.

Texas Oncology, an independent oncology practice, currently includes more than 2000 patients annually statewide participating in more than 150 open trials at any given time. With more than 420 physicians and 175 locations, it has helped to develop nearly 70 FDA-approved cancer-fighting drugs, which amounts to approximately one-third of the cancer therapies approved by the FDA.

Among numerous honors, Tolcher received the Murray Muirhead Award for humanitarian and academic excellence and the Goel Prize in medicine for excellence in the Clinical Disciplines. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada, a Diplomate of the American Board of International Medicine and Medical Oncology, and a member of the American College of Physicians, and the American Society of Clinical Oncologists. He also serves as a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology Scientific Program Committee and the Cancer Education Committee. Additionally, he was a Fogarty Fellow at the National Institute of Health.

Tolcher is the reviewer of numerous journals, includingAnti-Cancer Drugs, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Clinical Cancer Research,andCancer Research. He is an associate editor ofThe Journal of New Anticancer Agentsand a scientific grant reviewer for the National Cancer Institute of Canada. He has authored numerous publications, including 38 peer reviewed publications, 26 conference proceedings, and 5 book chapters. Additionally, he was noted as playing a pivotal part in the founding of the San Antonio 1000 Cancer Genome Project.

Tolcher received his medical degree at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. He later went on to receive his residency in internal medicine at the University of Toronto and his fellowship in oncology at the University of British Columba. His fellowship in research was completed at the National Cancer Institute.