Nevertheless, this is not necessarily a disadvantage, as the release of Mn2+ ions within cancer cells can play several promising roles: (i) promote Fenton-like reactions, (ii) enable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and (iii) activate the stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway for immunotherapy (Fig. 2a).27–29. This evidence concerns the gene CGAS and cancer.