The development of solid tumor is often accompanied by extracellular matrix abnormal deposition, cross-linking and stiffening. Extracellular matrix stiffening and tumor cell softening contribute to the mechanical heterogeneity of tumor microenvironment. Matrix mechanics regulates tumorigenesis, malignancy, metastasis of tumor by affecting tumor cells proliferation, migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, properties of cancer stem cells and drug resistance. To study the effect of matrix mechanics on cancer development can not only deepen the understanding of cancer development, but also provide theoretical basis for developing new treatment strategy. In this paper, the research advances in the effect of extracellular matrix mechanical characteristics on tumor development and tumor cell biological behavior was summarized and its development prospect was also discussed.