Abstract: OBJECTIVE To summarize the processes of retinoic acid receptor (RAR) function, molecular mechanism and application in treatment of tumor and to offer some reference for the RAR-related tumor therapy and new drug development. METHODS Search the recent research literatures on RAR, and analyze them in respects of function, molecular mechanisms and tumor therapy. RESULTS RARs integrate several signaling pathways through regulation of transcription, translation and phosphorylation. Retinoic acid receptor plays an important role in cancer therapy and the retinoic acid analogues are effective in regulating cell differentiation and reversing malignant phenotypes of several cancer cells. CONCLUSION Regulation of retinoic acid receptor is such a high complex process, the role of RAR in the development of tumors and treatment remains to be further studied.