SPP1 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Surprisingly, the available evidence suggests that CDH2 [108,109], SPP1 [110], TNC [111], CYR61 [85], SERPINA1 [83,112], and IL6 [113] play an essential role in the development of lung cancer; therefore, our results suggest that these genes might exert central roles in the pathogenesis of IPF and are excellent targets to study the development, progression, and prognosis of IPF-associated lung cancer.