Given that our GSEA analysis results suggested an association between CTSW expression levels and DNA damage pathways within CRC tumors, we next explored potential relationships between CTSW and the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway, which is an important innate immune response pathway that can be activated by tumor DNA spill. Here, CGAS is linked to colorectal carcinoma.