Mini-reviewSTING signaling in tumorigenesis and cancer therapy: A friend or foe?

•STING is a DNA sensor that is critical for host defense against viral infection.•STING signaling prevents the development of cancers, and lower STING expression in tumor is associated with poorer prognosis.•STING signaling recruits suppressive immune cells and activates pro-survival genes signaling to promote cancer development.•Preclinical studies suggested the potential of the application of STING agnoists on cancer therapy.

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is a DNA sensor and an important cytoplasmic adaptor for other DNA sensors, such as Z-DNA binding protein 1 (DAI), DEAD-box helicase 41 (DDX41), and interferon-γ-inducible protein 16 (IFI16). The activation of STING signaling leads to the production of type I interferons and some other pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are critical for host defense against viral infection. Recent accumulating evidences suggest that STING is also involved in tumor development. However, the role of STING signaling in tumorigenesis is complicated, and a comprehensive review is still lacking. In this paper, we provided an overview of the dual role of STING signaling in tumor development from clinical significance to fundamental mechanisms, as well as its pre-clinical application in cancer therapy.