Pulmonary Fibrosis and Lung Cancer: Pathophysiology and Novel Therapeutic Approaches

Dear Colleagues,

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive chronic interstitial lung disease characterized by robust remodeling and scarring of the lung that results in stiffening of the lung vasculature and causes other pathological changes that compromise the lung function. PF is caused by several factors, including inflammation, smoking and genetic mutation. PF also manifests as secondary to other lung diseases, including pulmonary hypertension, and is caused due to other unknown etiologies that are collectively defined as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a major type of PF. Despite ongoing efforts to identify a cure, currently, there is no medication for PF, and treatment options largely rely on impeding lung scarring with drugs and steroids, with lung transplantation being the last resort in severe cases of PF (with limited success). Moreover, patients diagnosed with IPF have a significantly increased risk of developing lung cancer, which further complicates the prognosis and treatment modalities of IPF. The global incidence of PF and lung cancer increases every year, with a higher rate of morbidity and mortality being seen worldwide. Therefore, there is an urgent need to understand the pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms underlying the complex disease of PF and lung cancer and to identify novel and effective treatment strategies to improve the quality of life of PF and the lung cancer patient community.

This Special Issue aims to provide our readers with current knowledge and understandings regarding novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of PF and lung cancer. We welcome original research articles, reviews, meta-analyses/systematic reviews, or shorter perspective articles, as well novel technological approaches on all aspects related to the pathophysiological and molecular aspects and treatment options of pulmonary fibrosis, whether it be caused by inflammation, genetic aberration, lung cancer, and other idiopathic etiologies, including pulmonary hypertension.

Dr. Arun Samidurai
Guest Editor

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• pulmonary fibrosis
• pulmonary arterial hypertension
• myocardial infarction
• epigenetics