Dr. Rachna Shroff, Who Led Bile Duct Cancer Trial, Dies At 47

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India-West News Desk

TUCSON, AZ – Dr. Rachna Shroff, a cancer specialist who led a major clinical trial in bile duct cancer and worked to improve treatment options for patients with gastrointestinal cancers, has died at 47 after being diagnosed with cancer herself.

Shroff was associate director of the University of Arizona Cancer Center and a fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Her research also focused on pancreatic and other hepatobiliary cancers.

She advocated for wider access to clinical trials, which can give patients access to emerging treatments.

One of her final contributions was helping establish the Conquer Cancer – Rachna Shroff, MD, MS, FASCO Young Investigator Award in Biliary Cancer to support future researchers. Launched shortly after her diagnosis, the initiative received contributions from more than 600 donors within a few months. The University of Arizona said it raised more than $1.35 million for future cancer research.

The paid tribute to her contributions to cancer research. Colleagues at SWOG also recognized her leadership in collaborative research and her support for younger investigators.

Shroff trained at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and later completed fellowship training at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

She is survived by her husband, Dr. Puneet Shroff; their children, Simran and Sachini.