Neuroendocrine and Neuro-Oncology Specialists Join Markey's Team

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 25, 2012) — Two new specialists have joined the oncology team at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center.

Dr. Lowell Anthony specializes in the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors and gastrointestinal cancers. At Markey, Anthony will lead and develop the Neuroendocrine Clinical Oncology Program.

Anthony will focus his research efforts toward Phase II trial in neuroendocrine tumor patients with the anti-FGF agent dovitinib (TKI258) in addition to developing other clinical trials for neuroendocrine tumors. He also serves as a professor of medicine in the UK College of Medicine.

Anthony comes to Markey from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He received his doctorate and completed his residency in internal medicine from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. While at Vanderbilt, he also completed fellowships in medical oncology and clinical pharmacology.

Dr. John Villano specializes in the treatment of brain cancers. He will develop UK's Clinical Neuro-Oncology Research Program, serving as its director. His research focus will include developing clinical trials for neuro-oncology tumors. Villano will also serve as an associate professor of medicine in the UK College of Medicine.

Previously, Villano worked at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He received his doctorate from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas and completed a residency in neurology at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor. He also completed a fellowship in hematology/oncology at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

"Drs. Anthony and Villano are both exceptional oncologists whose expertise will allow us to provide even more specialized care for our patients," said Dr. Mark Evers, director of the UK Markey Cancer Center. "I'm thrilled to have these physicians joining our team here at Markey."

MEDIA CONTACT: Allison Perry, (859) 323-2399 or allison.perry@uky.edu