Lung cancer in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

There are many epidemiological pieces of evidence that show IPF patients have the highest risk of lung cancer. We conducted a systematic review of all published data to define the characteristics of lung cancer that develops in IPF by performing a meta-analysis.

This study was performed based on the PRISMA guideline. Documents gathered by searching through the Web of Sciences, Scopus, PubMed/Medline, OVID, and COCHRANE databases which published before 03/25/2018 that related to lung cancer in IPFs' patients. Articles were searched using standard keywords as well as Mesh and Mesh Entry and all probabilistic combinations of words using Boolean operators. Data searching, extracting and quality appraising were done by two researchers, independently. At last, Random-effects size based on Cochrane test and I2 were used. The review protocol has been registered in PROSPERO with ID: CRD42018094037.

Based on the meta-analysis conducted in 35 (0.18%) included studies, the total sample size of patients with IPF was estimated 131947 among whom 6384 had LC. The total rate of LC prevalence in IPF patients was estimated to be 13.54% (95% CI: 10.43-17.4) that was significantly 9 times higher in men vs. Women and smoker vs. non-smoker. Highest to lowest prevalence of cellular (histological) subtypes of lung cancer in IPF were SQCC (37.82%), ADC (30.79%), SmCC (20.48%), LCC (5.21%), and ADQC (4.81%), respectively. The highest and lowest stage of lung cancer in IPF patients was estimated at III and II, respectively. The highest involvement location of lung cancer in IPF patients was in the Peripheral. Also, the prevalence of the tumor region involved from the highest to the lowest was estimated to be in the RLL, LLL, RUL and LUL regions.

Lung cancer in IPF, most commonly SQCC, presents in elderly heavy smokers with a male, locating in peripheral regions and the lower part of lung predominance.