Since there are indications of common pathogenetic pathways between IPF and lung cancer, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the expression levels of both telomerase subunits (h-TERT and h-TERC) in lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with IPF and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This evidence concerns the gene TERT and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.