Which factor does contribute to the poor prognosis of brain metastasis in lung cancer patients?

Limited treatment options for brain lesions significantly contribute to the poor prognosis of brain metastasis in lung cancer patients. This is primarily because, when lung cancer spreads to the brain, the treatment landscape becomes more complex. Many therapeutic approaches that are effective for other organs are not as effective for brain metastases due to the blood-brain barrier, which restricts the passage of many drugs into the central nervous system.

Additionally, patients with brain metastasis may experience restrictions in the types of systemic therapies they can receive. Treatments like radiation therapy can be effective for controlling brain lesions, but they may not target the systemic nature of the primary lung cancer adequately. As a result, the care plan for these patients must often navigate between managing brain lesions and a possible systemic treatment, leading to challenges in improving overall survival rates. The combination of these factors leads to a generally poorer prognosis for lung cancer patients when brain metastasis is involved.