From the research paper “NLR-regulated pathways in cancer: opportunities and obstacles for therapeutic interventions” authored by Sushmita Jha, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology and Nidhi Sharma, Ph.D. Student, Department of Biology, which was published in the May 2016 issue of the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, published by Springer Verlag, the figure depicting the “Summary of NLR inflammasome complex formation (Fig. 2)” was highlighted as the cover story of the Journal issue. NLRs (nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat containing receptors) are pattern recognition receptors associated with immunity and inflammation in response to endogenous & exogenous pathogens and damage associated molecular patterns (PAMPs and DAMPs respectively). Dysregulated NLR function is associated with several diseases, including cancers, metabolic diseases, autoimmune disorders and auto-inflammatory syndromes. In the last decade, distinct cell and organ specific roles for NLRs have been identified, but their roles in cancer initiation, development and progression remained controversial. This review article summarizes the emerging role of NLRs in cancer and their possible future as targets for cancer therapeutics.