Dr. Rachna Shroff, an internationally respected cancer specialist and researcher who dedicated her career to improving treatment options for patients with difficult-to-treat gastrointestinal cancers, has died at 47 after a brief battle with an aggressive cancer, the University of Arizona announced.
Shroff served as associate director of clinical investigations at the University of Arizona Cancer Center and chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the university’s College of Medicine in Tucson. She was widely recognized for her work on pancreatic cancer, bile duct cancer and other hepatobiliary malignancies.
Her research focused on cancers that have historically presented major treatment challenges. Shroff helped lead clinical trials exploring new approaches to biliary tract cancer, also known as cholangiocarcinoma. Her work contributed to a growing body of research aimed at expanding treatment possibilities for patients facing these diseases.
She authored more than 80 scientific publications and delivered presentations at more than 130 professional engagements. Before joining the University of Arizona in 2018, she served as an associate professor of gastrointestinal medical oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Colleagues also remembered Shroff for her commitment to mentoring younger physicians and researchers. In tributes following her death, members of the oncology community highlighted her scientific leadership, generosity and determination to improve patient care.
After receiving her own life-limiting cancer diagnosis, Shroff continued working to support the future of cancer research. One of her final goals was to establish the Conquer Cancer–Rachna Shroff Endowed Young Investigator Award in Biliary Cancers. The initiative raised more than $1.35 million to support emerging researchers working in the field.
Shroff is survived by her husband, Dr. Puneet Shroff, and their children, Simran and Sachin, along with her parents and sister.
Her legacy extends beyond her publications and clinical trials. Through the patients she treated, the researchers she mentored and the funding she helped secure, Shroff leaves a lasting contribution to the pursuit of better cancer treatments.