As a key transcriptional target of the transcription factor NRF2, p62 plays crucial roles in DNA damage response (DDR), cancer development, mTORC1-mediated nutrient sensing and metabolism, cell death, aging, inflammation and immunity, cell differentiation, osteoclastogenesis, neurotrophin properties and obesity, dependently or independenely of the autophagy machinery (2, 7–12). This evidence concerns the gene SQSTM1 and cancer.