G6PD and hepatocellular carcinoma: In a rat model of hepatocarcinogenesis, where early preneoplastic foci and nodules progressed towards HCC, metabolic changes were found to be characterized by enhanced activity of the PPP and reduced oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) through the upregulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), leading to the overexpression of G6PD [49].