细胞的氧化平衡由Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1（KEAP1）/ nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2（NRF2）通路维持。这种细胞保护通路可以解毒活性氧和异物。在癌变的不同阶段（包括启动、促进、恶化和转移），KEAP1 / NRF2通路作为促癌或抗癌的角色都很复杂。本篇小型综述聚焦于关键研究，描述KEAP1 / NRF2通路如何在不同阶段影响肿瘤。汇编的数据表明，KEAP1 / NRF2在癌症中的作用高度依赖于背景；具体包括使用的模型（致癌剂诱导vs遗传）、肿瘤类型和癌症的阶段。此外，新兴数据表明，KEAP1 / NRF2对调节肿瘤微环境非常重要，其影响可以通过表观遗传或对共存突变的响应进行放大。需要进一步解析这种通路的复杂性以开发新的药物和药物治疗方案，以改善患者的临床疗效。

The oxidative balance of a cell is maintained by the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) pathway. This cytoprotective pathway detoxifies reactive oxygen species and xenobiotics. The role of the KEAP1/NRF2 pathway as pro-tumorigenic or anti-tumorigenic throughout stages of carcinogenesis (including initiation, promotion, progression, and metastasis) is complex. This mini review focuses on key studies describing how the KEAP1/NRF2 pathway affects cancer at different phases. The data compiled suggest that the roles of KEAP1/NRF2 in cancer are highly dependent on context; specifically, the model used (carcinogen-induced vs genetic), the tumor type, and the stage of cancer. Moreover, emerging data suggests that KEAP1/NRF2 is also important for regulating the tumor microenvironment and how its effects are amplified either by epigenetics or in response to co-occurring mutations. Further elucidation of the complexity of this pathway is needed in order to develop novel pharmacological tools and drugs to improve patient outcomes.