title: Lung cancer in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
abstract: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic fibrotic lung disease of unknown etiology. With a gradually increasing worldwide prevalence and a mortality rate exceeding that of many cancers, IPF diagnosis and management are critically important and require a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach. This approach also involves assessment of comorbid conditions, such as lung cancer, that exerts a dramatic impact on disease survival. Emerging evidence suggests that progressive lung scarring in the context of IPF represents a risk factor for lung carcinogenesis. Both disease entities present with major similarities in terms of pathogenetic pathways, as well as potential causative factors, such as smoking and viral infections. Besides disease pathogenesis, anti-cancer agents, including nintedanib, have been successfully applied in the treatment of patients with IPF while an oncologic approach with a cocktail of several pleiotropic anti-fibrotic agents is currently in the therapeutic pipeline of IPF. Nevertheless, epidemiologic association between IPF and lung cancer does not prove causality. Currently there is significant lack of knowledge supporting a direct association between lung fibrosis and cancer reflecting to disappointing therapeutic algorithms. An optimal therapeutic strategy for patients with both IPF and lung cancer represents an amenable need. This review article synthesizes the current state of knowledge regarding pathogenetic commonalities between IPF and lung cancer and focuses on clinical and therapeutic data that involve both disease entities.
authors.affiliation: First Academic Department of Pneumonology, Hospital for Diseases of the Chest, "Sotiria", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karampitsakos
authors.affiliation: First Academic Department of Pneumonology, Hospital for Diseases of the Chest, "Sotiria", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Vasilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tzilas
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Hospital for Diseases of the Chest,"Sotiria", Messogion Avenue 152, Athens 11527, Greece.
authors.forename: Rodoula
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tringidou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumonology, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece.
authors.forename: Paschalis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Steiropoulos
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming", Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Vasilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Aidinis
authors.affiliation: 2nd Pulmonary Medicine Department, Attikon University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Spyros A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Papiris
authors.affiliation: First Academic Department of Pneumonology, Hospital for Diseases of the Chest, "Sotiria", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Demosthenes
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bouros
authors.affiliation: First Academic Department of Pneumonology, Hospital for Diseases of the Chest, "Sotiria", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Division of Immunology, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming", Athens, Greece. Electronic address: argyrios.tzouvelekis@fleming.gr.
authors.forename: Argyris
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tzouvelekis
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D054990:Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; Lung cancer; Pathogenesis; Scarcinoma; Treatment