A study reveals that the Nrf2-HMOX1 axis plays a central role in non-small cell lung cancer’s resistance to cisplatin by suppressing ferroptosis, a regulated form of cell death linked to iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. By upregulating HMOX1, cancer cells mitigate oxidative stress and evade chemotherapy-induced death. This discovery offers promising targets to sensitize tumors and overcome treatment resistance in one of the deadliest cancers globally.