Bidirectional regulation of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase-stimulator of interferon gene pathway and its impact on hepatocellular carcinoma

Figure 3 The role of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase-stimulator of interferon gene signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma. The pivotal role of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase-stimulator of interferon gene (cGAS-STING) signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is profound. When DNA damage occurs within HCC cells, it triggers the formation of double-stranded DNA. This, in turn, stimulates and activates the cGAS-STING signaling cascade, ultimately inducing autophagy and activating the apoptotic process. Furthermore, this pathway facilitates the release of cytokines, which subsequently elicits a robust systemic antitumor immune response. This immune response is instrumental in controlling both local and distant metastasis, thereby mitigating the progression of tumor growth.