HMOX1 and cancer: Through NRF2 activation, DMF modulates the expression of a variety of anti-oxidant enzymes, including heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and NADPH dehydrogenase (quinone 1) (NQO1), thus dysregulating the intracellular radical oxygen species (ROS) level, whose fine balance is required for cancer cell survival [7].