Objective Cancer-related anorexia and cachexia syndrome (CACS) is a kind of complex clinical syndrome with a high mortality in advanced stage of cancer. Ghrelin and Ghrelin mimetics have showed excellent effect and tolerance in latest studies. In this paper, we review the present situation and the progress in studies about the effect of Ghrelin, Ghrelin mimetics and related growth factors in CACS. Methods Related articles were obtained through comprehensive search in the database, like CNKI, Pubmed, and so on, with the keywords “cancer, cachexia, Ghrelin, Ghrelin mimetics, growth hormone, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1”. Results Ghrelin mimetics, like Anamorelin consistently increased lean body mass, improved symptoms and quality of life, and have not shown an increase in tumor proliferation in CACS. There were no substantial evidence to support that growth hormone, insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 would beneft patients with CACS. Conclusions Ghrelin mimetics and potentiation of ghrelin, represented by Anamorelin have shown positive effects in CACS, and would be applied in clinics in the near future.