Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an interstitial lung disease with poor prognosis. Although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood, IPF is connected with lung cancer development, which farther worsens the prognosis. Various papers report IPF and cancer coexistence in 9.8% to even 82% of patients depending on observation period. Contrary to already established guidelines in the general population, there are no widely accepted recommendations on lung cancer treatment in IPF population. At the same time, various oncologic interventions can result in acute exacerbation of IPF. This paper tries to revise the available data on lung cancer in patients with preexisting IPF.
Highlights
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is the most commonly observed form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, yet as with other interstitial lung diseases, it could be frequently unrecognised [1,2,3]
The first widely accepted diagnostic criteria for Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) were published on the basis of a consensus of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) in 2000 [4]
The results demonstrate striking differences in the immunohistochemical pattern in adenocarcinoma from IPF patients [41]
Summary
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is the most commonly observed form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, yet as with other interstitial lung diseases, it could be frequently unrecognised [1,2,3]. The available data show that IPF is associated with a high risk of lung cancer comorbidity, which further affects a poor survival prognosis [6]. The data from available studies seem to support the existence of an association between IPF development and tobacco smoking, which can constitute a link to carcinogenesis in the lung tissue.
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