In addition to syndrome differentiation based treatment

the use of anti-cancer herbs has become an important principle for cancer treatment. However

combination of different anti-cancer herb or herb and anti-cancer durgs may elicite synergisic or antagonistic therapeutic effects. There is a growing significance to explore the compatibility rule of anti-cancer herbs. This review focuses on a number of reports of anti-cancer herb-herb or herb-drug interactions

such as TCM theory based combinations

pharmacological study based compatibilitiy

dissection of empirical formulae

or herb-drug combinations. Related studies may provide new clue and basis to improve clinical curative effect of traditional Chinese medicine.