In the past fifteen years, the proteasome has been validated as an anticancer drug target and 20S proteasome inhibitors (such as bortezomib and carfilzomib) have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of multiple myeloma and some other liquid tumors. However, there are shortcomings of clinical proteasome inhibitors, including severe toxicity, drug resistance and no effect in solid tumors. At the same time, extensive research has been conducted in the areas of natural compounds and old drug repositioning toward the goal of discovering effective, economical, low toxicity proteasome-inhibitory anticancer drugs. A variety of dietary polyphenols, medicinal molecules, metallic complexes and metal-binding compounds have been found to be able to selectively inhibit tumor cellular proteasomes and induce apoptotic cell death in vitro and in vivo, supporting the clinical success of specific 20S proteasome inhibitors bortezomib and carfilzomib. Therefore, the discovery of natural proteasome inhibitors and researching old drugs with proteasome inhibitory properties may provide an alternative strategy for improving the current status of cancer treatment and even prevention.