LCN2 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: The analysis revealed stage-specific signatures: (a) IPF premalignancy presented 391 upregulated genes (including TMEM190, C9orf24, and FAM183A) alongside 91 downregulated markers (e.g., SFTPB, SFTPA, and CXCL2); (b) LUAD progression presented 179 upregulated genes (notably SFTPA1, SFTPA2, and S100A9) associated with IPF premalignancy, with 161 unique suppressed genes (SCGB1A1, LCN2, and HLA-DRB5) [Figs. 3(c) and 3(d)].