Background:　Effective　cancer　therapy　is　still　a　great　challenge　for　modern　medical　research　due　to　the　complex　underlying　mechanisms　of　tumorigenesis　and　tumor　metastasis,　and　the　limitations　commonly　associated　with　currently　used　cancer　therapeutic　options.　Nanotechnology　has　been　implemented　in　cancer　therapeutics　with　immense　potential　for　improving　cancer　treatment.　Objective:　Through　information　about　the　recent　advances　regarding　cancer　hallmarks,　we　could　comprehensively　understand　the　pharmacological　effects　and　explore　the　mechanisms　of　the　interaction　between　the　nanomaterials,　which　could　provide　opportunities　to　develop　mechanism-based　nanomedicine　to　treat　human　cancers.　Methods:　We　collected　related　information　and　data　from　articles.　Results:　In　this　review,　we　discussed　the　characteristics　of　cancer　including　tumor　angiogenesis,　abnormalities　in　tumor　blood　vessels,　uncontrolled　cell　proliferation　markers,　multidrug　resistance,　tumor　metastasis,　cancer　cell　metabolism,　and　tumor　immune　system　that　provide　opportunities　and　challenges　for　nanomedicine　to　be　directed　to　specific　cancer　cells　and　portray　the　progress　that　has　been　accomplished　in　application　of　nanotechnology　for　cancer　treatment.　Conclusion:　The　information　presented　in　this　review　can　provide　useful　references　for　further　studies　on　developing　effective　nanomedicine　for　the　treatment　of　cancer.　©　2019　Bentham　Science　Publishers.