AKR1B1 and lung cancer: AKR1B1 exerts pleiotropic effects on physiological processes and has been implicated in the progression of various diseases, including cancer.58 In studies on breast and lung cancer, AKR1B1 was shown to promote tumor growth and metastasis by modulating the NF-κB‒Twist2 axis and the glucose‒polyol‒EMT pathway.59,60 However, the precise role of AKR1B1 in HCC progression and drug resistance development remains unclear.