BDH2 and nasopharyngeal carcinoma: The imported iron is used to synthesise iron–sulfur clusters, which are important for the activity of the citric acid cycle enzymes, oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial respiration.44 The lack of siderophore contributes to the abnormal accumulation of intracellular iron and increases cell proliferation.10 Our results indicate that inactivation of BDH2 leads to iron retention in nasopharyngeal epithelial cells, so it may be important for carcinogenesis and development of NPC.