NFE2L2 and cancer: Specifically, while Nrf2 activation is protective in acute MIRI, its sustained or non-selective overactivation may promote cancer cell proliferation and drug resistance by regulating the expression of antioxidant genes, thereby helping cancer cells resist oxidative damage caused by chemotherapy drugs and enhancing their survival capabilities (Nezu and Suzuki, 2021; Nguyen et al., 2025).