KEAP1 and cancer: Taken together, all these reports suggest that, in addition to its inhibitory effect on liver injury caused by hepatotoxins, activation of the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway might inhibit the first step of hepatocarcinogenesis (initiation step) by impairing the biotransformation of pro-carcinogens and, consequently, the formation of highly reactive metabolites that, through their binding to DNA, can induce mutations in genes relevant for cancer development (Figure 2).