Two complementary reports highlight innate-immune targets shaping cancer immunity and inflammation. A review of the cGAS–STING pathway synthesizes opportunities and challenges for cancer therapy, mapping where pathway activation may drive antitumor immunity versus protumor inflammation. The review articulates mechanistic liabilities and translational strategies for agonists and antagonists in oncology. Separately, a study on BMS794833 demonstrates that the compound inhibits MERTK and disrupts macrophage efferocytosis, a process central to clearance of apoptotic cells and immune homeostasis. The MERTK inhibition data provide insight into how blocking efferocytosis could remodel tumor-associated macrophage function and affect responses to immunotherapies. Together, these pieces refocus attention on innate sensing and myeloid biology as immediate translational priorities.