The Dawn of Precision Medicine in Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) represent a broad group of heterogeneous parenchymal lung diseases. Some ILDs progress, causing architectural distortion and pulmonary fibrosis, and thus are called fibrotic ILDs. Recent studies have shown a beneficial effect of antifibrotic therapy in fibrotic ILDs other than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) that manifest progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). However, it remains challenging to predict which patients with fibrotic ILDs will demonstrate PPF. Precision medicine approaches could identify patients at risk for progression and guide treatment in patients with IPF or PPF.

Multiple biomarkers able to highlight disease susceptibility risk, to provide an accurate diagnosis, and to prognosticate or assess treatment response have been identified. Advances in precision medicine led to the identification of endotypes that could discriminate patients with different fibrotic ILDs or patients with different disease courses. Importantly, recent studies have shown that particular compounds were efficacious only in particular endotypes. The aforementioned findings are promising. However, implementation in clinical practice remains an unmet need.

Substantial progress has been observed in the context of precision medicine approaches in fibrotic ILDs in recent years. Nonetheless, infrastructure, financial, regulatory, and ethical challenges remain before precision medicine can be implemented in clinical practice. Overcoming such barriers and moving from a one-size-fits-all approach to patient-centered care could improve patient quality of life and survival substantially.