{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,20]],"date-time":"2026-07-20T10:33:33Z","timestamp":1784543613095,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":70,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,4]],"date-time":"2026-03-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1772582400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and lung cancer (LC) are major causes of global respiratory morbidity and mortality. Increasing evidence suggests that tuberculosis may induce persistent pulmonary alterations that extend beyond microbiological cure, potentially facilitating lung carcinogenesis. This review synthesizes current epidemiological and mechanistic evidence linking PTB to subsequent LC development. Methods: A structured narrative appraisal of the literature was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, MDPI Journals, and Google Scholar, focusing on studies published between 2020 and 2025. Eligible publications included cohort studies, meta-analyses, observational reports, and mechanistic investigations addressing the TB\u2013LC association. Studies were thematically categorized into epidemiological evidence, pathogenic mechanisms, diagnostic challenges, and therapeutic implications. Results: Population-based studies consistently demonstrate a two- to threefold increased risk of LC among individuals with prior PTB, independent of smoking and other major confounders. Mechanistically, the post-tuberculous lung is characterized by chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, fibrotic remodeling, immune checkpoint activation (including PD-1\/PD-L1 signaling), dysregulated microRNA expression, and metabolic reprogramming. Clinically, overlapping radiological and histopathological features may delay cancer diagnosis. A history of TB may also influence therapeutic decisions, particularly regarding immune checkpoint inhibitors due to potential infection reactivation. Conclusions: PTB may represent an independent risk factor for LC through sustained structural and immunological remodeling. Structured post-TB surveillance and risk-adapted screening strategies may be warranted in selected high-risk populations.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm15051966","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,4]],"date-time":"2026-03-04T15:01:07Z","timestamp":1772636467000},"page":"1966","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Scars That Speak: Unraveling the Oncogenic Aftermath of Pulmonary Tuberculosis\u2014A Narrative Review"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Cristina","family":"Cioti","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Internal Medicine Department, \u201cSf. Apostol Andrei\u201d Emergency County Hospital, 145 Tomis Blvd., 900591 Constanta, Romania"},{"name":"Doctoral School of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, 1 University Street, 900470 Constanta, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5191-2585","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Miruna Cristian","family":"Gherase","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Doctoral School of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, 1 University Street, 900470 Constanta, Romania"},{"name":"Center for Research and Development of the Morphological and Genetic Studies of Malignant Pathology\u2014CEDMOG, Ovidius University of Constan\u021ba, 900470 Constanta, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4009-469X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Irina","family":"Tica","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Internal Medicine Department, \u201cSf. Apostol Andrei\u201d Emergency County Hospital, 145 Tomis Blvd., 900591 Constanta, Romania"},{"name":"Doctoral School of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, 1 University Street, 900470 Constanta, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gabriela","family":"Fricatel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Doctoral School of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, 1 University Street, 900470 Constanta, Romania"},{"name":"Oncology Department, \u201cSf. Apostol Andrei\u201d Emergency County Hospital, 145 Tomis Blvd., 900591 Constanta, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elena","family":"Ciciu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Doctoral School of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, 1 University Street, 900470 Constanta, Romania"},{"name":"Nephrology Department, \u201cSf. Apostol Andrei\u201d Emergency County Hospital, 145 Tomis Blvd., 900591 Constanta, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9844-8521","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Oana Cristina","family":"Arghir","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Doctoral School of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, 1 University Street, 900470 Constanta, Romania"},{"name":"Clinical Pneumology Hospital of Constanta, 40 Sentinelei Str, 900002 Constanta, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100510","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jctube.2025.100510","article-title":"The persistent threat of tuberculosis\u2015Why ending TB remains elusive?","volume":"38","author":"Suvvari","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Clin. Tuberc. Other Mycobact. 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