Abstract: Acetyl coenzyme A (CoA) is an indispensable synthetic and metabolic material in the process of rapid growth of tumors. According to the Warburg effect, tumor cells can not produce acetyl CoA by oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate. Acetyl CoA is mainly synthesized by acyl-CoA synthetase short chain family member 2(ACSS2), acetic acid + coenzyme A + ATP = acetyl coenzyme A + diphosphate + AMP, indicating that ACSS2 plays an important role in maintaining the growth of tumor cells. In recent years, more and more evidence has demonstrated that abnormal activity and expression of ACSS2 are closely associated with tumor proliferation, invasion, metastasis, anti-apoptosis and drug resistance, etc. In this article, the research progresses on the role and mechanism of ACSS2 in these tumor characteristics were reviewed.