A landmark study elucidates how the Nrf2 transcription factor regulates HMOX1 to suppress ferroptosis, enabling non-small cell lung cancer cells to evade cisplatin cytotoxicity. By dissecting this molecular axis in vitro and in vivo, researchers provide a mechanistic basis for targeting Nrf2-HMOX1 signaling as a potential strategy to overcome chemotherapy resistance, an obstacle in improving outcomes for one of the deadliest cancers globally.