Cancer stem - like cells (CSC) are a minor population of tumor mass and considered to have abilities of tumor initiation, differentiation, and chemoresistance (1). (cancerres.aacrjournals.org)
It is generally believed that a series of mutations in multiple genes are needed for cancer cells to become metastatic; however, recent cancer stem cell theory, which still remains as a hypothesis, predicts that metastatic tumor cells are, by definition, cancer stem cells and that these cells may exist in tumor mass even at an early stage. (cancerres.aacrjournals.org)
As fast growing tumor mass lacks a functioning lymphatic system, clearance of these nanoparticles is limited and further enhances the accumulation. (rdmag.com)