Despite a great scientific effort, the causes, development as well as progression of many tumors still remains unknown. Since that, it is important to investigate possible mechanisms which may lead to better understanding of cancer biology. Nucleotide and adenosine receptors may be consider as a promising direction of anti-tumor scientific research. Nucleotide receptors P2 and adenosine receptors P1 forms a great family of proteins whose activity has been proved to be involved in many cellular processes vital for tumorogenesis. This review gives basic insights into the mechanisms of proproliferative as well as antiproliferative action of nucleotide receptors in tumor cells.