Zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) form one of the largest families of transcription factors in human genetics, via their conserved zinc finger motifs. ZFPs function in many biological processes including development, differentiation, metabolism and apoptosis. In addition, recent studies have demonstrated that ZFPs are closely associated with different stages of cancer development. One of the hallmarks of cancer is altered signal transduction cascades and an understanding of the changes in these pathways is essential for targeted cancer therapy. In this review, we discuss examples of ZFPs involved in development and progression of several types of cancer, which can provide new insights into cancer treatment.