NFE2L2 and cancer: 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).