As cancer chemopreventive blocking agents protect normal tissues against initiation of carcinogenesis by inducing NRF2-target genes encoding enzymes that minimise the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of carcinogens, it is not surprising that the permanent activation of NRF2 in tumour cells confers resistance to therapeutic agents, as well as radiotherapy. The gene discussed is NFE2L2; the disease is cancer.