【Abstract】Objective To investigate the effects of propofol(PROP) on proliferation, migration and invasion in breast cancer cells and the underlying mechanism. Methods MCF-7 cells were treated with different concentrations of PROP. Then survival rate of MCF-7 cells was determined by MTT assay. Cell migration and invasion abilities were detected by Transwell assay. Expression levels of miR-520a-3p in MCF-7 cells was measured by qRT-PCR. And expression levels of Cyclin D1, MMP-2, MMP-9 and β-catenin proteins in MCF-7 cells were detected by Western blot. Results Propofol (PROP) inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner, promoted the expression of miR-502a-3p and inhibited the expression of β-catenin protein. Up-regulation of miR-520a-3p inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of MCF-7 cells by down-regulating Cyclin D1, MMP-2 and MMP-9. Down-regulation of miR-520a-3p partly reversed the effects of PROP on proliferation, migration and invasion of MCF-7 cells and the expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway protein β-catenin(P＜0.05）). Conclusion Propofol inhibites proliferation, migration and invasion of MCF-7 cells by up-regulating miR-520a-3p and inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Propofol has a potential inhibitory effect on breast cancer.