Poughkeepsie - "Emerging Therapies and Gastrointestinal Malignancies" is the topic of this year's 4^th annual Cancer Teaching Day. Sponsored by SFH for physicians and allied health professionals, the event will be held 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 27 at the Alumnae House at Vassar College.

Dr. David Moylan of Professional Radiology Oncology Services (PROS) has been involved for two years and organized this year's event with Cancer Center Administrative Assistant Mari Colt. The conference is geared toward professionals such as colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists, primary care physicians, oncology nurses, radiotherapeutic technicians, physician assistants, and the general nursing community. The conference will feature a series of speakers.

Dr. Vincent Marrone, specializing in Gastroenterology at Saint Francis Hospital, will discuss updates on colorectal screening techniques. Dr. Jeff Kobak, a Saint Francis Hospital Interventional Radiologist, will discuss the Role for Interventional Radiology in the Management of Gastrointestinal Malignancies. Dr. Philip Paty, an expert in rectal surgery, will discuss The Role of Sphincter Preserving Surgery in the Management of Low-Lying Rectal Adenocarcinoma.

Dr. Herbert C. Hoover Jr. will discuss two topics: The Surgical Management of Hepatic Metastases of Colorectal Origin, and A Novel Vaccine Program for Management of Stage II Colon Cancer. Dr. Moylan will preside over Lunch with the Professors, a case presentation with commentary by the panel of experts.

The afternoon session will feature Dr. Lewis Rose whose topic is Chemotherapy and Targeted Therapy - 2010. Dr. James Ahlgren, professor in medical oncology at George Washington University, will discuss The Treatment of Stage IV Cancers. Ahlgren will prove that patients with advanced cancers are not hopeless, especially with all the advances in technology nowadays.