Abstract:Objective To explore the influences of Propofol and/or Carboplatin (CBP) on the proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer cells and its relationship with the tyrosine kinase JAK/transcription factor STAT (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway. Methods MCF-7 cancerous cell line were cultured in Propofol (100?μmol) and/or CBP (20?μmol/L). Cellular inhibitory effect was detected by CCK-8. Morphological changes were observed by Hoechst33342 staining; the colony formation was detected by the clone formation experiment of flat cell; PI/Annexin V-FITC double staining was used to measure apoptosis; the expressions of p-JAK2, p-STAT3, B lymphocyto-2 protein (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 related X protein (Bax) and Cleaved Caspase-3 protein were identified by WB. Results Compared with control group, cell inhibition rate and cell apoptosis rate increased while colony number decreased in Propofol and CBP group in a synergistic manner (P?0.05). Compared with normal breast epithelial cells, the expressions of Cleaved Caspase-3 and Bax protein decreased while expression of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 protein in MCF-7 cells increased (P?0.05) in MCF-7 cells, all of which were reversed with treatment of Propofol and CBP, the (P?0.05). Conclusions Propofol combined with CBP inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells potentially through inhibition of JAK/STAT and up-regulation of apoptotic proteins.