Dr. Rachna Shroff, a prominent gastrointestinal cancer researcher and division chief at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, died at age 47 following a battle with terminal adenocarcinoma, leaving behind a $1.35 million endowed young investigator award established in her honor.
The oncology community is mourning the loss of a physician-scientist whose career bridged complex laboratory research and direct patient care. Dr. Shroff served as associate director of clinical investigations at the University of Arizona Cancer Center and chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology in the Department of Medicine at the College of Medicine – Tucson, alongside her role as the inaugural John F. and Valli S. Duval Endowed Professor for Gastrointestinal Oncology.
Diagnosis and Final Months in the Public Eye
Her illness began earlier this year when she noticed a swollen lymph node in May. Initial medical evaluations by her care team suspected lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. Subsequent testing revealed terminal adenocarcinoma, an aggressive cancer originating in the glandular tissue lining internal organs, with indications pointing to a primary source in the stomach or intestine. Because her condition carried no cure, she reflected candidly on the paradox of battling the very disease she spent her life investigating.
I’ve spent my entire life trying to eradicate cancer, primarily pancreatic cancer, but also liver cancers.
Dr. Rachna Shroff, via NBC News
Despite her terminal prognosis, she maintained a visible presence in her field. She attended a major national cancer research conference just days after receiving her diagnosis, determined to elevate awareness around emerging clinical breakthroughs.
Building Gastrointestinal Programs Across Elite Institutions
Dr. Shroff built an extensive academic and clinical record spanning multiple major medical centers. Her interest in oncology took root during high school in 1993 when she earned the Osler Fellowship to work in a University of Arizona laboratory. Following her undergraduate biochemistry studies at Brown University and her medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University, she completed a fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2010.
She remained on the faculty at MD Anderson Cancer Center as an associate professor of gastrointestinal medical oncology until returning to Tucson in 2018. Over her career, she authored more than 80 scientific publications and delivered over 130 professional presentations. Nationally, she served as the Hepatobiliary Subcommittee co-chair for the Southwest Oncology Group and chaired the 2024 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium for the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Legacy of Mentorship and the $1.35 Million Endowed Award
Colleagues remembered her as a dedicated leader who expanded clinical trial access across southern Arizona to ensure patients could reach cutting-edge therapies. Dr. Dan Theodorescu, director of the University of Arizona Cancer Center and her supervisor, noted that she successfully advanced hundreds of clinical trials and recruited exceptional young talent to the institution.
In September, as her health declined, she spearheaded the creation of the Conquer Cancer – Rachna Shroff, MD, MS, FASCO Endowed Young Investigator Award in Biliary Cancers. Friends, colleagues, and supporters rapidly mobilized to fund the initiative.
Faced with her own cancer diagnosis, Dr. Rachna Shroff never stopped inspiring others. She raised over $1.35M to endow the Conquer Cancer – Rachna Shroff, MD, MS, FASCO Young Investigator Award in Biliary Cancer to ensure research will continue year after year. We are grateful…
The pace at which this endowment came together is and it is because of Dr. Shroff and what she means to us.
Deanna van Gestel, via The Cancer Letter
The fund surpassed $1.35 million in contributions within weeks, cementing a permanent mechanism to support early-career researchers investigating biliary tract cancers.
Family and Continuing Impact
Colleagues and professional organizations including ASCO highlighted her commitment to mentorship and her active role on scientific advisory boards. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Puneet Shroff, a professor of medicine and associate director of Banner Medical Group’s Allergy Clinic; their children, Simran and Sachin; her parents, Devendar Trivedi and Dr. Amita Trivedi; and her sister, Neema Sahni.
Arizona university cancer researcher Rachna Shroff dies of disease she was trying to cure https://t.co/xr1XgjEyIj pic.twitter.com/7p2RM4Srvj
More on Rachna Shroff
Dr. Rachna Shroff, a renowned cancer researcher at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, has died at the age of 47 after battling an aggressive form of cancer. She spent much of her career researching pancreatic and bile duct cancers, working to develop better treatments for… pic.twitter.com/Fa9oDMhdhS
