NFKB1 and neoplasm: Notably, the innate immune response-induced nephrocyte damage is a major contributor to reduced lifespan in the tumor hosts, as the authors (Cong et al, 2025) demonstrate that blocking the Imd/NF-κB pathway in nephrocytes or removing gut bacteria via germ-free derivation or antibiotic treatment ameliorates nephrocyte deterioration and extends the lifespan of tumor hosts (Fig. 1).