Extracellular cGAMP is a cancer-cell-produced immunotransmitter involved in radiation-induced anticancer immunity

2′3′-Cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) is an intracellular second messenger that is synthesized in response to cytosolic double-stranded DNA and activates the innate immune STING pathway. Our previous discovery of its extracellular hydrolase ENPP1 hinted at the existence of extracellular cGAMP. Here we detected that cGAMP is continuously exported but then efficiently cleared by ENPP1, explaining why it has previously escaped detection. By developing potent, specific and cell-impermeable ENPP1 inhibitors, we found that cancer cells continuously export cGAMP in culture at steady state and at higher levels when treated with ionizing radiation (IR). In mouse tumors, depletion of extracellular cGAMP decreased tumor-associated immune cell infiltration and abolished the curative effect of IR. Boosting extracellular cGAMP with ENPP1 inhibitors synergized with IR to delay tumor growth. In conclusion, extracellular cGAMP is an anticancer immunotransmitter that could be harnessed to treat cancers with low immunogenicity. Li and colleagues report that extracellular cGAMP produced by cancer cells acts as an immunotransmitter that, when combined with ionizing radiation, can reduce tumor volume.