Pathogenesis and current status of the treatment of lung cancer associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Abstract Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an interstitial lung disease with chronic progressive fibrosis of unknown etiology; it is characterized by persistent fibrosis of the lungs accompanied by irreversible lung function decline and high mortality rates. A large body of evidence suggests a...

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Main Authors: Yuanyuan Zhang, Chang Qi, Qi Wei, Yalun Li, Panwen Tian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Respiratory Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-025-03294-7
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author Yuanyuan Zhang
Chang Qi
Qi Wei
Yalun Li
Panwen Tian
author_facet Yuanyuan Zhang
Chang Qi
Qi Wei
Yalun Li
Panwen Tian
author_sort Yuanyuan Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an interstitial lung disease with chronic progressive fibrosis of unknown etiology; it is characterized by persistent fibrosis of the lungs accompanied by irreversible lung function decline and high mortality rates. A large body of evidence suggests a significant association between IPF and lung cancer (LC). IPF itself increases the risk of LC development, and LC associated with IPF often originates in areas of honeycomb lesions in IPF. In addition, there are similarities between the two diseases in terms of genetics as well as cellular molecular mechanisms; examples include genetic and epigenetic variants, fibroblast activation and proliferation, epithelial‒mesenchymal transition (EMT), abnormal mechanical forces generated in the lungs, and aberrant signaling pathway activation, which may drive the progression of pathology in both diseases. In this review, we describe in detail the epidemiological and clinical associations of LC in patients with IPF, highlight recent studies on the shared pathogenesis between IPF and LC, and discuss current advances in the treatment of LC associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
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spelling doaj-art-a06879475e694d0c98c7cf6e4d13d3692025-08-20T04:01:41ZengBMCRespiratory Research1465-993X2025-07-0126112110.1186/s12931-025-03294-7Pathogenesis and current status of the treatment of lung cancer associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosisYuanyuan Zhang0Chang Qi1Qi Wei2Yalun Li3Panwen Tian4Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Precision Medicine Center/Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Precision Medicine Center/Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Precision Medicine Center/Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Precision Medicine Center/Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Precision Medicine Center/Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityAbstract Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an interstitial lung disease with chronic progressive fibrosis of unknown etiology; it is characterized by persistent fibrosis of the lungs accompanied by irreversible lung function decline and high mortality rates. A large body of evidence suggests a significant association between IPF and lung cancer (LC). IPF itself increases the risk of LC development, and LC associated with IPF often originates in areas of honeycomb lesions in IPF. In addition, there are similarities between the two diseases in terms of genetics as well as cellular molecular mechanisms; examples include genetic and epigenetic variants, fibroblast activation and proliferation, epithelial‒mesenchymal transition (EMT), abnormal mechanical forces generated in the lungs, and aberrant signaling pathway activation, which may drive the progression of pathology in both diseases. In this review, we describe in detail the epidemiological and clinical associations of LC in patients with IPF, highlight recent studies on the shared pathogenesis between IPF and LC, and discuss current advances in the treatment of LC associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-025-03294-7Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)Lung cancer (LC)PathogenesisTreatment
spellingShingle Yuanyuan Zhang
Chang Qi
Qi Wei
Yalun Li
Panwen Tian
Pathogenesis and current status of the treatment of lung cancer associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Respiratory Research
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)
Lung cancer (LC)
Pathogenesis
Treatment
title Pathogenesis and current status of the treatment of lung cancer associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
title_full Pathogenesis and current status of the treatment of lung cancer associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
title_fullStr Pathogenesis and current status of the treatment of lung cancer associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
title_full_unstemmed Pathogenesis and current status of the treatment of lung cancer associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
title_short Pathogenesis and current status of the treatment of lung cancer associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
title_sort pathogenesis and current status of the treatment of lung cancer associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
topic Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)
Lung cancer (LC)
Pathogenesis
Treatment
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-025-03294-7
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AT yalunli pathogenesisandcurrentstatusofthetreatmentoflungcancerassociatedwithidiopathicpulmonaryfibrosis
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