Though AKR1B10 is not only predominantly expressed in the distal gastrointestinal tract, but also in proximal nasopharynx, some nasopharyngeal cells with low or negative expression of AKR1B10 in some NPC patients might undergo carcinogenesis and eventually grow into tumors due to loss of efficient detoxification of AKR1B10, or excessive cytotoxic carbonyls. The gene discussed is AKR1B10; the disease is nasopharyngeal carcinoma.