University of Arizona cancer researcher Rachna Shroff dies at 47

Rachna Shroff, a cancer researcher at the University of Arizona, has died at the age of 47 from terminal adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer she was working to cure. The American Society of Clinical Oncology announced her passing on Tuesday, stating that she had been battling the disease. Shroff was diagnosed earlier this year after a swollen lymph node was examined, initially leading doctors to suspect lymphoma. She served as the associate director of clinical investigations at the University of Arizona Cancer Center and was recognized for her work in pancreatic and bile duct cancers. Shroff was also a mother to a 13-year-old son and a 17-year-old daughter. She celebrated significant milestones before her death, including college visits with her daughter and attending her son's baseball games. In her honor, a Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award was launched, raising over $1.35 million for cancer research. Shroff authored more than 80 publications and described her cancer journey as a personal fight against the disease she dedicated her life to eradicating. She graduated with a biochemistry degree from Brown University in 2000 and received her medical doctorate from Thomas Jefferson University in 2004. Shroff previously worked at MD Anderson Cancer Center from 2010 to 2018 before joining the University of Arizona. Tributes have been shared on the Conquer webpage, highlighting her impact and dedication to cancer research and patient care.