The observation that cGAS–STING-driven autophagic death also occurs outside of telomere crisis in response to cell–cell fusion — a catastrophic event that precipitates aberrant mitosis and CIN — suggests it may constitute a conserved tumour-suppressive mechanism for the elimination of cells experiencing catastrophic levels of CIN [107], despite reports of a protective role for autophagy in less severe CIN contexts. The gene discussed is STING1; the disease is cervical squamous intraepithelial neoplasia.