Objective To summarize the role of N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) and the advancement of it in tumor research. Methods Publications on line at home and abroad involving the roles of NDRG1 and the correlation between it and tumor were collected and reviewed. Results NDRG-1, has a number of important functions such as in organism responses in hypoxia, histological differentiation, and so on, especially plays a significant role in generation, metastasis, and invasion of cancer. Conclusion NDRG1 may be a candidate of metastasis relevant gene for cancer and may serve as a useful prognostic marker of carcinoma.