Provided is the use of substituted diphenylamine compounds of general formula I in preparing anti-tumour drugs. The compounds of general formula I have good anti-tumour activity, especially suitable for treating or relieving cancers caused by tumour cells in tissues and organs in a human body. The cancers preferably are colon cancer, lymphoma, lung cancer, esophagus cancer, breast cancer, central nervous system tumor, melanoma, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, renal cancer, leukemia, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, rectal cancer, osteosarcoma, pharyngeal cancer or gastric cancer etc. The structure of the compound of general formula I is shown in formula (I).
