Propofol, as a widely used intravenous anesthetic, has been found to have the potential of anti-tumor growth and metastasis in recent years. At present, the research on the mechanism of propofol inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis is still relatively limited. In this paper, we summarize the recent studies on the role of propofol in inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis and its possible molecular mechanisms, such as regulating specific signaling pathways or key molecules, and interacting with other molecules. At the same time, the application of propofol, including the optimization of administration route and dose, as well as the possibility of being an adjunct therapy to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, was analyzed, and the recent studies on the mechanism of propofol inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis were reviewed,providing a reference for further exploration of the application and research direction of propofol in clinical anti-tumor growth and metastasis therapy.