Metabolic disorders are considered to be a fundamental feature of all cancer cells and genes related to the regulation of cellular metabolism have gradually become targets for cancer diagnosis and treatment. One-carbon metabolism is a prevalent metabolic process in cells mainly responsible for body biosynthesis amino acid homeostasis epigenetic maintenance and regulation of cellular nutritional status etc. Its important metabolic pathways folate cycle and methionine cycle are closely related to the prevention and development of tumors. The core of the folate cycle is the interconversion of folate and its derivatives which on the one hand has been shown to be effective in reducing the risk of cancer development while on the other hand if precancerous lesions have already formed the DNA precursors provided by the folate cycle may provide raw material for cancer cell growth thus accelerating the development of cancer. In addition abnormal activation of the serine biosynthetic pathway in this cycle is one of the important processes in cancer pathogenesis. The enzymes required in its metabolic process have been found to be closely related to cancer and are expected to be key targets for tumor prevention and treatment. Various coenzymes are also involved in this cycle such as vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 which are closely associated with cancer progression. Methyl donors play a pivotal role in epigenetic and metabolic pathways and are considered to be one of the most promising targets for the prevention and treatment of cancer. In the methionine cycle pathway elevated levels of S-adenosylmethionine and deficiencies of choline and betaine all affect DNA methylation thereby increasing cancer risk. This study will briefly review the relationship between one-carbon metabolism and cancer and elucidate the role of one-carbon metabolic indicators on cancer prevention and development.