Molecular Aspect of Propofol's Effect on Cytotoxic and Long Non-Coding RNA (lncRNA) Expressions in MCF-7

Propofol (2,6-diisopropyl phenol) is an anesthetic agent frequently used in clinical practice. Besides its anesthetic properties, it exhibits many non-anesthetic effects, including antitumor activity. Propofol has an important effect on the spread of cancer, underlying molecular mechanisms of which are, however, not clearly known. In addition, Propofol may suppress the immune system by affecting both long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) at the molecular level. In our study, we determined propofol's toxic effects, especially its effects on lncRNAs in the breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Results of our study indicate that, when compared to untreated control cells, propofol administration decreases the expression of the lncRNAs which function as oncogenes (CCAT2, GACAT1, H19, PCAT1, SPRY4-IT1, UCA1) and increases the expression of lncRNAs which function as tumor suppressor genes (MEG3, TUSC7). Consequently, we suggest that propofol application on MCF-7 also supports the anti-cancer effect property by acting on lncRNAs.