Objectives: Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecologic malignant tumors. Propofol has been proposed to play a role of antitumor in various cancers. However, the functions and mechanisms of Propofol in cervical cancer is still not clear. Methods: In vitro, the different concentrations of propofol were co-incubated with cervical cancer cell lines, including Hela, Caski and C-33A cells respectively. The pcDNA-HOTAIR plasmid was transfected into cells after the treatment of 10 mu g/ml propofol. The cell viability and apoptosis were detected by MU assay and TUNEL method. In vivo, propofol was injected into mice of transplantation tumor with Caski cells or with pcDNA-HOTAIR treated Caski cells. Results: Propofol significantly decreased the cell viability and increased the cell apoptosis in Hela, Caski and C-33A cells, while HOTAIR overexpression promoted cell viability and inhibits cell apoptosis. mTOR/p7056K protein expression levels were also markedly reduced by propofol but the effects were reversed with pcDNA-HOTAIR. In vivo, propofol inhibited the tumor size but had no inhibition effect in HOTAIR overexpression group. Conclusion: Propofol inhibited tumor size, cell viability and promoted cell apoptosis via inhibiting mTOR/p70S6K pathway mediated by HOTAIR in cervical cancer. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.