The role of cGAS-STING signaling pathway in colorectal cancer immunotherapy: Mechanism and progress

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor in the gastrointestinal tract, it is known as the "silent killer", which poses a serious threat to the lives of patients. The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon gene (STING) signaling pathway responds to DNA by sensing, which plays an important role in anti-infection, autoimmune diseases and anti-tumor immunity. Recent studies have found that the activation of cGAS-STING pathway in CRC can induce the expression and secretion of type I interferon (IFN-I) and a variety of inflammatory factors, further activate anti-tumor CD8⁺ T cells, exert anti-tumor immune response, and inhibit the progression of CRC. Therefore, targeting the cGAS-STING pathway and developing drugs that can regulate the cGAS-STING pathway are of great significance for improving the therapeutic effect and prognosis of CRC patients. In this review, we introduce the cGAS-STING signaling pathway and the regulatory role of this signaling pathway in CRC immune microenvironment. In addition, we discussed the research progress of cGAS-STING pathway in CRC immunotherapy and the clinical research status of STING agonists developed against this pathway, emphasizing the clinical potential of CRC immunotherapy based on the cGAS-STING signaling pathway.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Immunotherapy; cGAS-STING pathway.