Moreover, immunostaining data was further supported by qRT-PCR which starkly demonstrated an upregulation of Egfr mRNA levels in 20 IPF (median values 4.41, ranges 0.93–13.4, P < 0.05), 15 COP (median values 4.65, ranges 0.68–12.34, P < 0.05) and 11 fibrotic NSIP (median values 4.35, ranges 0.97–8.9, P < 0.05), lung samples compared to 4 cellular NSIP (median values 0.22, ranges 0.01–0.09) and 10 control lung tissue specimens (median values 0.13, ranges 0.01–0.56) (Figure 5(c)). This evidence concerns the gene EGFR and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.