Abstract:HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) is the first long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) which was found to have regulatory functions of reverse transcription. HOTAIR was up-regulated in various human carcinoma cells and cancer tissues. Overexpression of HOTAIR can promote tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion. And the abnormal of cell proliferation is closely related to the development of cancer. Here, we overview the discovery, structure, functions of HOTAIR and especially the mechanism of its effects on tumor cell proliferation.