Abstract: Transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1), a DNA-binding protein with zinc finger structure, plays an important role in post-transcriptional regulation of cells, and is related to the occurrence, metastasis, drug resistance and poor prognosis of cancer. Studies have shown that YY1 promotes the development of many tumors, while inhibiting only a small number of them. The promoting or inhibiting roles of YY1 in different tumors mainly depend on the target genes or protein cofactors interacting with YY1. Based on the structure and mechanism of YY1, the advances in research on the roles of YY1 in tumor progression are reviewed in this paper.