By reviewing the identification methods

research techniques

molecular mechanisms and intervention measures in current researches on cancer-related symptom clusters

this paper analyzed the necessity and feasibility of symptom clusters in effectiveness evaluation of cancer studies. Through the discussion on problems of symptom clusters when used in the field of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） oncology

it was found that symptom clusters were of great clinical value and were highly correlated with the quality of life（QOL）. Symptom clusters had great potential to be applied in the TCM effectiveness evaluation of cancer

and the establishment of this innovative evaluation index might be an important breakthrough to evaluate TCM effectiveness objectively. As symptom clusters had a core of holistic characteristics

the conduct of related researches concerning TCM characteristics might be an effective way to understand the complex "syndrome clusters" and build a comprehensible syndrome differentiation system. It is suggested to improve the effectiveness evaluation system of symptom clusters in TCM oncology under the guidance of TCM theories in future studies

and carry out researches on symptom clusters of TCM specifics

so as to lay the foundation for the objective effectiveness evaluation of TCM in cancer as well as the improvement of TCM syndrome differentiation system.