Long non-coding RNA（lncRNA）is a class of non-coding RNA molecules with a length of more than 200nt. Numerous studies have reported their significant roles in the occurrence and development of malignant tumors. In recent years，nultiple studies have highlighted the high expression of small nucleolar RNA host gene 20（SNHG20），a type of lncRNA，in various carcinomas such as lung cancer，liver cancer，and gastric cancer. SNHG20 has been shown to promote tumor cell proliferation，migration，invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition（EMT），inhibit apoptosis，affect cell cycle progression，and correlate with poor prognosis in patients. As a recognized oncogene，lncRNA SNHG20 is a potential therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker in malignant tumors. In this article，we summarize relevant research reports around the world，and review the research progress of lncRNA SNHG20 in malignant tumors.