【Abstract】Objective To investigate the effect of propofol on the apoptosis and growth of tpc1 cells in papillary thyroid cancer through mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Methods TPC1 cells were treated with 0, 12.5, 25, 50μM doses of propofol, and randomly divided into PPF group 0μM, PPF group 12.5μM, PPF group 25μM and PPF group 50μM for subsequent experiments. BrdU staining was used to detect cell proliferation. Cell growth was detected by clone formation method. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Flow separation was used to detect mitochondrial membrane potential. Protein expression levels of Ki67, PCNA, bcl2, Bax, caspase3, caspase9 and cMyc were detected by western blot. The contents of SOD, MDA and GSH were detected by the kit. Results Compared with PPF group 0μM, the number of brdupositive cells in PPF25μM and 50μM groups was significantly decreased（P＜005）, the clone formation rate was significantly decreased （P＜005）, the protein levels of Ki67 and PCNA were significantly decreased（P＜005）, the apoptosis rate was significantly increased（P＜005）, and the mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly decreased. The ratios of Bax/Bcl2, cleaved caspase3/caspase3 and cleaved caspase9/ caspase9 were significantly increased （P＜005）, the levels of cmyc protein were significantly decreased（P＜005）, the levels of SOD were significantly decreased（P＜005）, and the levels of MDA and GSH were significantly increased（P＜005）. ConclusionPropofol activates the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and induces apoptosis and growth arrest of tpc1 cells in papillary thyroid cancer.