IFI16 and hepatocellular carcinoma: In the absence of stimulation with microbiota, DCs cannot appropriately participate in the immune activation process, resulting in higher sensitivity to various viral infections and reduced tumor suppression.34 STING-an essential signal adaptor of the cytosolic surveillance system-acts as the converging point for several recently identified DNA sensors (cGAS, Mre11, IFI16, DDX41, and DNA-PKcs).35 Emerging studies have shown that the cGAS–STING pathway plays an essential role in HCC progression.