Gastrointestinal Cancer Clinical Research Team

The Gastrointestinal Oncology team is a clinical research team comprised of GI-specific research personnel in addition to physicians in GI Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Transplant surgery, Gastroenterology, Pathology, Radiology, Radiation Oncology, and Interventional Radiology. Accredited by the NAPRC (National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer), our team has met a rigorous set of standards to assure the highest quality care for our patients.

The team encompasses care of all GI malignancies including:

  • gastro-esophageal cancers
  • pancreatic cancers
  • biliary tract cancers
  • liver cancers
  • neuroendocrine cancers
  • small bowel cancers
  • anal cancers
  • colorectal cancers

The majority of GI cancers are increasing in incidence and pose a large global health burden. For example, colorectal cancers are the third most common cancer in the United States and pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Clinical and translational research aimed at developing novel therapies for these malignancies is essential to improving outcomes.

Our GI clinical research team is committed to improving care for all patients with GI cancers. To that end, we have a robust portfolio of clinical trials in GI malignancies. These trials include multidisciplinary treatment options for patients who can undergo surgery or radiation as well as trials for patients with advanced disease who need access to novel therapies that they would not be able to get as part of the “standard of care.” As a team, we focus on personalizing care for each patient by offering cutting edge treatments and understanding each individual person’s cancer down to the molecular level. We offer biomarker-driven trials that are based on a patient’s specific tumor profile, while also having trials focused on immunotherapy and combination therapies. Our strategy as a team is to ensure that we have a trial for every GI cancer patient and that these trials are selected based on that individual’s needs.

Our team of physicians are world-renowned experts in their fields of GI cancers and have experience treating complicated cases. As leaders in the field, our clinicians are seasoned clinical investigators who are running and are involved in multiple global trials. They are invited to speak on the national and international stage regarding their research experiences and findings, and serve on multiple committees for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). We are committed to enhancing knowledge in the GI oncology space. The GI clinical research team's emphasis on clinical trials ensures that patients are given the best possible care and that they are offered the newest and most cutting edge treatments available.

Please contact Dr. Rachna Shroff (Leader, GI clinical research team, Chief, Section of GI Medical Oncology) for further information at rshroff@arizona.edu

Our Researchers

Rachna T Shroff, MD, MS, FASCO

Interim Clinical Affairs Director, Cancer Center
Associate Director of Clinical Investigations, Cancer Center
Associate Dean, Clinical and Translational Research
Chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology
Professor, College of Medicine
Clinical and Translational Oncology Program

Staff

Research Data Coordination

Anthony Ashley
Email: ata1@arizona.edu

Beth Marie Estevez
Phone: 520-626-5566
Email: bestevezquintana@arizona.edu

Regulatory Coordination

Diana Dawson
Phone: 520-626-7757
Email: dkdawso@arizona.edu

Program Manager

Prisca Zimmerman
Email: priscaz@arizona.edu

The only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center headquartered in the state of Arizona.

 Bringing promising new therapies from the laboratory to the bedside is a high priority. The clinician scientists of the University of Arizona Cancer Center are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials, investigating a broad spectrum of new diagnostic, prevention and treatment strategies. 

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