Abstract: Twist is an evolutionarily conserved basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor. It has been found to play a key role in embryonic morphogenesis and the progression of primary tumor invasion, metastasis and drug resistance by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition. With the oncogenesis and development of gynecological neoplasms, twist has an increasing expression, inducing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and leading to malignant phenotype and poor prognosis. In this review, the molecular biological characteristics, signal transduction pathway, function of twist on tumor cell and the research progresses on twist in the progression of gynecology oncology will be discussed comprehensively.

Key words: Twist, Epithelial-mesenchymal transition, Uterine cervical neoplasms, Ovarian neoplasms, Endometrial neoplasms