Abstract: Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins(hnRNPs) represent a family of RNA-binding proteins with structural similarities, most of which contain two RNA binding regions and one nuclear localization region that participate in various aspects of nucleic acid metabolism, including alternative splicing, mRNA stabilization, and transcriptional and translational regulation. Recent studies have revealed that hnRNPs are associated with the occurence and progression of cancer. Particularly, the alternative splicing of hnRNPs may participate in the tumorigenesis through a variety of ways, such as regulating the expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes or apoptotic genes, affecting tumor energy metabolism, upregulating telomerase activity, and promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transformation and vascular formation. This review summarizes the hnRNPs family and its physiological functions, the latest findings on the relationship between hnRNPs and various tumors, including lung cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer and digestive tract tumors, and also the diverse functions of hnRNPs in tumorigenesis in order to provide new targets for the treatment of tumors.