The natural cytotoxic receptor (NCR) family includes NCR1 (NKp46/CD335), NCR2 (NKp44/CD336), and NCR3 (NKp30/CD337). They are type I single Transmembrane protein belonging to the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily. Various pathogenic and host coding molecules have been identified as ligands for NCR. They were initially discovered through their ability to induce cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells to tumor cells in vitro, and animal models have shown that NCR plays a role in tumor monitoring, viral infection, and pregnancy in vivo. NCR1/NKP46 is considered a universal marker of NK cells, and recent studies have found that it is also expressed by other cells, such as the first group of natural lymphocytes (ILC1), a subgroup of the third group of ILC (NCR+ILC3), and γδ T cells. NCR1/NKp46 is also expressed in some malignant NK cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells and T-cell lymphoma, and is considered as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for them. The cross-linking of NCR1/NKp46 with antibodies can activate NK cells, which has been studied as a promising therapeutic pathway.