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Dr Rachna Shroff: Indian-American Cancer Researcher Who Turned Her Diagnosis Into Advocacy

<span>Dr Rachna Shroff</span>, an Indian-American cancer researcher at the University of Arizona, has died at the age of 47 from an aggressive form of cancer she had spent her career studying, the university announced.

Earlier this year, <span>Shroff</span>, associate director of clinical investigations at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, was diagnosed with incurable, <span>terminal adenocarcinoma</span>, a cancer that develops in glandular cells lining certain organs.

<h2><span rel="noindex">Dr Rachna</span> Shroff’s Cancer Diagnosis</h2>

Dr Rachna first noticed a swollen lymph node in May. By the end of the month, the cancer had spread elsewhere in her body, and tests suggested it had likely originated in her stomach or intestine.

Her medical team initially suspected lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. Further testing later confirmed terminal adenocarcinoma.

“It’s been a journey,” Dr Rachna told NBC News in a Zoom interview shortly before her death. “I’ve spent my entire life trying to eradicate cancer, primarily pancreatic cancer, but also liver cancers.”

<strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/swimmer-archie-goodburns-plea-prompts-uk-action-to-speed-up-brain-cancer-treatment-article-156346903" data-type="tilCustomLink">Swimmer Archie Goodburn’s Plea Prompts UK Brain Cancer Research Review</a>

<h2>Dr Rachna Shroff’s Scientific Work</h2>

Dr Rachna was a clinician-scientist and internationally respected expert in cholangiocarcinoma, a rare cancer of the bile ducts. She authored more than 80 publications and participated in more than 130 professional engagements.

In September, despite her own life-limiting diagnosis, one of her final wishes was to establish the Conquer Cancer – Rachna Shroff, MD, MS, FASCO Endowed Young Investigator Award in Biliary Cancers. Within weeks, she achieved her goal of raising more than $1.35 million to support future cancer research and innovation.

<h2>A Career Dedicated to <span rel="noindex">Advancing Cancer</span> Treatment</h2>

READ: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/survival-in-aggressive-brain-tumors-improves-by-up-to-50-in-india-say-doctors-article-154467432" data-type="tilCustomLink">Survival In Aggressive Brain Tumors Improves By Up To 50% in India, Say Doctors</a>

The daughter of a nephrologist mother and a biochemist father, Dr Rachna developed an early interest in cancer research in Tucson. As a high school student, she won the 1993 Osler Fellowship, which gave her the opportunity to work in the laboratory of Margaret Briehl, a University of Arizona Cancer Center member and professor at the College of Medicine – Tucson.

She completed her undergraduate studies at Brown University and earned her medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University. In 2010, she completed her fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she subsequently served as an associate professor of gastrointestinal medical oncology from 2010 to 2018.

She returned to Tucson in 2018 after being recruited to the University of Arizona.

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Dr Rachna became internationally recognized for her work in cholangiocarcinoma, focusing on a rare and historically difficult-to-treat disease at a time when treatment options were limited and no therapies had been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration specifically for the disease. The field has since advanced significantly, in part through landmark clinical trials she led as a principal investigator.

In a video recorded for a conference five years ago, Dr Rachna discussed how gastrointestinal cancer research was beginning to catch up with advances in better-known cancers.

“I will admit that we had a little bit of envy of the targeted therapy space in, say, lung cancer and breast cancer...but I think in the last decade or so, we have seen a dramatic improvement in terms of understanding the relevant targets for all of the different GI malignancies,” she told the 2021 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.

Shroff was also renowned for her work developing novel therapies for pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancers.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dr Rachna's most cherished roles were those of wife, mother and friend.

She is survived by her husband, Dr Puneet Shroff, a professor of medicine and associate director of the Banner Medical Group’s Allergy Clinic; their children, Simran and Sachin.

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Dr Rachna Shroff, an Indian-American cancer researcher at the University of Arizona, has died at the age of 47 from an aggressive form of cancer she had spent her career studying, the university announced.Earlier this year, Shroff, associate director of clinical investigations at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, was diagnosed with incurable, terminal adenocarcinoma, a cancer that develops in glandular cells lining certain organs.Dr Rachna Shroff’s Cancer DiagnosisDr Rachna first noticed a swollen lymph node in May. By the end of the month, the cancer had spread elsewhere in her body, and tests suggested it had likely originated in her stomach or intestine.Her medical team initially suspected lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. Further testing later confirmed terminal adenocarcinoma.“It’s been a journey,” Dr Rachna told NBC News in a Zoom interview shortly before her death. “I’ve spent my entire life trying to eradicate cancer, primarily pancreatic cancer, but also liver cancers.”Also read: Swimmer Archie Goodburn’s Plea Prompts UK Brain Cancer Research ReviewDr Rachna Shroff’s Scientific WorkDr Rachna was a clinician-scientist and internationally respected expert in cholangiocarcinoma, a rare cancer of the bile ducts. She authored more than 80 publications and participated in more than 130 professional engagements.In September, despite her own life-limiting diagnosis, one of her final wishes was to establish the Conquer Cancer – Rachna Shroff, MD, MS, FASCO Endowed Young Investigator Award in Biliary Cancers. Within weeks, she achieved her goal of raising more than $1.35 million to support future cancer research and innovation.A Career Dedicated to Advancing Cancer TreatmentREAD: Survival In Aggressive Brain Tumors Improves By Up To 50% in India, Say DoctorsThe daughter of a nephrologist mother and a biochemist father, Dr Rachna developed an early interest in cancer research in Tucson. As a high school student, she won the 1993 Osler Fellowship, which gave her the opportunity to work in the laboratory of Margaret Briehl, a University of Arizona Cancer Center member and professor at the College of Medicine – Tucson.She completed her undergraduate studies at Brown University and earned her medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University. In 2010, she completed her fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she subsequently served as an associate professor of gastrointestinal medical oncology from 2010 to 2018.She returned to Tucson in 2018 after being recruited to the University of Arizona.   Dr Rachna became internationally recognized for her work in cholangiocarcinoma, focusing on a rare and historically difficult-to-treat disease at a time when treatment options were limited and no therapies had been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration specifically for the disease. The field has since advanced significantly, in part through landmark clinical trials she led as a principal investigator.In a video recorded for a conference five years ago, Dr Rachna discussed how gastrointestinal cancer research was beginning to catch up with advances in better-known cancers.“I will admit that we had a little bit of envy of the targeted therapy space in, say, lung cancer and breast cancer...but I think in the last decade or so, we have seen a dramatic improvement in terms of understanding the relevant targets for all of the different GI malignancies,” she told the 2021 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.Shroff was also renowned for her work developing novel therapies for pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancers.Dr Rachna Shroff’s FamilyBeyond her professional accomplishments, Dr Rachna's most cherished roles were those of wife, mother and friend.She is survived by her husband, Dr Puneet Shroff, a professor of medicine and associate director of the Banner Medical Group’s Allergy Clinic; their children, Simran and Sachin.

dr rachna shroff: indian-american cancer researcher who turned her diagnosis into advocacy

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