Lung Cancer in Patients With Combined Pulmonary Fibrosis and Emphysema and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. A Descriptive Study in a Spanish Series

[New therapeutic advances in patients with lung cancer immunosuppressed with chronic lung diseases in the period 2014-2022 from the review of the literature.]

Lung cancer is a malignant neoplasm with a high prevalence and mortality, more so in patients with respiratory comorbidities, whose cells have a massive proliferation capacity in the lung tissue, managing to invade other organs, which deteriorates the patient's physical and emotional state, decreasing their quality of life and defense system; therefore, treatment today is not sufficient for patient survival and there has been evidence of a certain evolution in the treatment of the disease or early detection to prevent it. This article aimed to analyze the new therapeutic advances in patients with lung cancer associated with chronic lung diseases in the period 2014-2022 based on a review of the literature. Several parameters were used to limit the search, extrapolating the articles of interest, validating fifty three articles, six doctoral theses and two books, which were in Spanish and English.The various search strategies used were keywords, subject and author follow-up. The sections developed in this review are the concept of Lung Cancer (LC), clinical manifestations, risk factors, relationship between LC and chronic lung diseases, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and new therapeutic advances. All the filtered information of the selected articles shows us the importance that the use of various biomarkers is taking for its early detection; however, the transfer of antitumor T cells in patients with underlying lung disease had an efficiency of 48.

Índice para predecir el riesgo de cáncer de pulmón

El cáncer de pulmón es la consecuencia de un crecimiento incontrolado y anormal de las células del pulmón, su incidencia y mortalidad es elevada en todo el mundo. El objetivo de este trabajo fue diseñar un índice para predecir el riesgo de desarrollar el cáncer de pulmón. Se realizó un estudio de casos y testigos desde el 1ro de enero de 2018 hasta 30 de junio de 2020, en pacientes diagnosticados con cáncer de pulmón en el hospital general universitario “Carlos Manuel de Céspedes” de Bayamo provincia de Granma. Los factores de mayor valor patogénico fueron índice tabáquico (OR = 5,21; IC = 2,57 a 10,55; p = 0,000) la fibrosis pulmonar (OR = 4,06; IC = 1,61 a 10,23; p = 0,000) y el antecedente familiar de cáncer (OR = 3,30; IC = 1,50 a 7,06; p = 0,000) todos de forma independiente. El índice clasificó correctamente al 78 % de los pacientes, con una sensibilidad (70,0 %) y la especificidad (86,0 %). Un área bajo la curva ROC de 0,802 (IC 95 % = 0,706 a 0,818; p = 0,000) indica que el índice discrimina mejor que el azar el riesgo de desarrollar el cáncer de pulmón de forma significativa. También la prueba de Hosmer y Lemeshow indica buena calibración del índice (p 0,489). El índice diseñado, a partir de los factores de riesgo independientes, permite predecir, el riesgo de desarrollar el cáncer de pulmón con adecuada validez. Palabras claves: cáncer de pulmón, factores de riesgo, índice

Syndrome of Combined Pulmonary Fibrosis and Emphysema: An Official ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT Research Statement

Background: The presence of emphysema is relatively common in patients with fibrotic interstitial lung disease. This has been designated combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE). The lack of consensus over definitions and diagnostic criteria has limited CPFE research. Goals: The objectives of this task force were to review the terminology, definition, characteristics, pathophysiology, and research priorities of CPFE and to explore whether CPFE is a syndrome. Methods: This research statement was developed by a committee including 19 pulmonologists, 5 radiologists, 3 pathologists, 2 methodologists, and 2 patient representatives. The final document was supported by a focused systematic review that identified and summarized all recent publications related to CPFE. Results: This task force identified that patients with CPFE are predominantly male, with a history of smoking, severe dyspnea, relatively preserved airflow rates and lung volumes on spirometry, severely impaired DlCO, exertional hypoxemia, frequent pulmonary hypertension, and a dismal prognosis. The committee proposes to identify CPFE as a syndrome, given the clustering of pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema, shared pathogenetic pathways, unique considerations related to disease progression, increased risk of complications (pulmonary hypertension, lung cancer, and/or mortality), and implications for clinical trial design. There are varying features of interstitial lung disease and emphysema in CPFE. The committee offers a research definition and classification criteria and proposes that studies on CPFE include a comprehensive description of radiologic and, when available, pathological patterns, including some recently described patterns such as smoking-related interstitial fibrosis. Conclusions: This statement delineates the syndrome of CPFE and highlights research priorities.

An increased risk of lung cancer in combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema patients with usual interstitial pneumonia compared with patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis alone: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:

Lung cancer is an important complication of combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE). Whether the risk of lung cancer is higher in CPFE patients with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) than those with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) alone, remains controversial. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the prevalence of lung cancer in CPFE patients with UIP compared with IPF patients.

Methods:

We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases for studies that focused on the incidence of lung cancer in CPFE/UIP and IPF groups. We used a fixed-effects model to analyze the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) according to data heterogeneity. The cumulative effects based on the publication year and sample size were assessed by cumulative meta-analysis.

Results:

A total of nine studies with 933 patients, including 374 CPFE patients with UIP, fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Overall, CPFE patients with UIP have a higher risk of lung cancer than those with IPF alone (OR = 2.69; 95% CI: 1.78–4.05). There were increased risks of lung cancer in CPFE/UIP patients with the presence of emphysema (OR = 2.93; 95% CI: 1.79–4.79) or emphysema in ⩾10% of the lung volume (OR = 2.22; 95% CI: 1.06–4.68).

Conclusions:

Our systematic review and meta-analysis indicated a significantly higher prevalence of lung cancer in CPFE patients with UIP than in patients with IPF alone.

The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.

Lung cancer in combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema: a large retrospective cohort analysis

Background

Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) is characterised by upper lobe emphysema and lower lobe fibrosis. Our study aim was to determine the incident risk, presenting characteristics and outcome of lung cancer diagnoses in a cohort of CPFE patients over time.

Materials and methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study assessing patients with radiological CPFE followed over a median of 76 months (range 1–237 months). Interval development of lung cancer and clinicopathological characteristics of those with and without lung cancer were compared and survival analysis performed.

Results

Lung cancer occurred in 26 (11.6%) out of 230 CPFE patients, dominated by nonsmall cell lung cancer (88%, n=23) with squamous cell carcinoma comprising the majority (57%, n=13). There was a predominance of lower lobe (62%) and subpleural (64%) radiological presentation. Survival was reduced for the whole cohort by lung cancer even after adjusting for a priori covariables of age, sex, smoking pack-years, presenting forced vital capacity and radiological honeycombing. Univariable predictors of increased mortality after lung cancer diagnosis included honeycombing (hazard ratio (HR) 3.03, 95% CI 1.16–7.91; p=0.02) and later stage presentation (HR 4.77, 95% CI 1.8–14.94; p=0.001), with those able to undergo surgical resection having better survival (HR 0.29, 95% CI 0.09–0.87; p=0.02).

Conclusion

Lung cancer occurred in 26 (11.6%) out of 230 CPFE patients and was dominated by squamous cell carcinoma presenting in a lower lobe peripheral distribution. Surgical resection appeared to improve survival in selected patients with earlier stage disease. Further studies are needed to develop a relevant screening programme for CPFE patients.

Lung cancer is common in CPFE patients followed over time, with possibly better survival in those diagnosed at earlier stages and successfully resected. Further studies to formulate disease-specific cancer screening protocols are needed.https://bit.ly/3445Bxr

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Lung Cancer. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Rationale: The association between idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and lung cancer has been previously reported. However, there is the potential for significant confounding by age and smoking, and an accurate summary risk estimate has not been previously ascertained.Objectives: To determine the risk and burden of lung cancer in patients with IPF, accounting for known confounders.Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases and used the Newcastle Ottawa criteria to assess study quality. We then assessed the quality of ascertainment of IPF cases based on modern consensus criteria. Data that relied on administrative claims or autopsies were excluded. We calculated summary risk estimates using a random effects model.Results: Twenty-five cohort studies were included in the final analysis. The estimated adjusted incidence rate ratio from two studies was 6.42 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.21-9.62) and accounted for age, sex, and smoking. The summary incidence rate from 11 studies was 2.07 per 100 person-years (95% CI, 1.46-2.67), and the summary mortality rate was 1.06 per 100 person-years (95% CI, 0.62-1.51) obtained from three studies. The summary prevalence from 11 studies was 13.74% (95% CI, 10.17-17.30), and the proportion of deaths attributable to lung cancer was 10.20 (95% CI, 8.52-11.87) and was obtained from nine studies.Conclusions: IPF is an increased independent risk factor for lung cancer, even after accounting for smoking. Further well-designed studies using modern consensus criteria are needed to explore mechanisms of this association.

Prognosis of combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema: comparison with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis alone

BACKGROUND

Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) is a syndrome characterized by the coexistence of upper lobe emphysema and lower lobe fibrosis. However, whether CPFE has a higher or lower mortality than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) alone is still not clear. In this study we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the survival rate (SR) of CPFE versus IPF alone in clinical trials.

METHODS

We performed a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for trials published prior to 31 March 2018. Extracts from the literature were analyzed with Review Manager version 5.3.

RESULTS

Thirteen eligible trials were included in this analysis (involving 1710 participants). Overall, the pooled results revealed that no statistically significant difference was detected in the 1-year [relative risk (RR) = 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.94-1.03, p = 0.47], 3-year (RR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.68-1.01, p = 0.06), and 5-year (RR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.59-1.07, p = 0.14) SRs of CPFE versus IPF alone.

CONCLUSIONS

CPFE exhibits a very poor prognosis, similar to IPF alone. Additional studies are needed to provide more convincing data to investigate the natural history and outcome of patients with CPFE in comparison to IPF. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.

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

BACKGROUND

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.

METHOD

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.

RESULTS

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.

CONCLUSIONS

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.

Profile of epigenetic mechanisms in lung tumors of patients with underlying chronic respiratory conditions

Background

Chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and epigenetic events underlie lung cancer (LC) development. The study objective was that lung tumor expression levels of specific microRNAs and their downstream biomarkers may be differentially regulated in patients with and without COPD.

Methods

In lung specimens (tumor and non-tumor), microRNAs known to be involved in lung tumorigenesis (miR-21, miR-200b, miR-126, miR-451, miR-210, miR-let7c, miR-30a-30p, miR-155 and miR-let7a, qRT-PCR), DNA methylation, and downstream biomarkers were determined (qRT-PCR and immunoblotting) in 40 patients with LC (prospective study, subdivided into LC-COPD and LC, N = 20/group).

Results

Expression of miR-21, miR-200b, miR-210, and miR-let7c and DNA methylation were greater in lung tumor specimens of LC-COPD than of LC patients. Expression of downstream markers PTEN, MARCKs, TPM-1, PDCD4, SPRY-2, ETS-1, ZEB-2, FGFRL-1, EFNA-3, and k-RAS together with P53 were selectively downregulated in tumor samples of LC-COPD patients. In these patients, tumor expression of miR-126 and miR-451 and that of the biomarkers PTEN, MARCKs, FGFRL-1, SNAIL-1, P63, and k-RAS were reduced.

Conclusions

Biomarkers of mechanisms involved in tumor growth, angiogenesis, migration, and apoptosis were differentially expressed in tumors of patients with underlying respiratory disease. These findings shed light into the underlying biology of the reported greater risk to develop LC seen in patients with chronic respiratory conditions. The presence of an underlying respiratory disease should be identified in all patients with LC as the differential biological profile may help determine tumor progression and the therapeutic response. Additionally, epigenetic events offer a niche for pharmacological therapeutic targets.