Propofol is one of the most popular intravenous agents used for induction and maintenance of anesthesia. Numerous studies have intended to explore whether or how propofol affects tumor metastasis and invasion but the results are conflicting. Propofol can influence cancer progression through indirectly affecting the function of immune cells such as T cells, NK cells or macrophages and directly interfering with cancer cell biology. The anti-inflammation property of propofol may be beneficial in certain cancer surgeries. In this review, we will discuss the current understanding about the postulated mechanisms underlying the effect of propofol on tumors and the present research progress in this field.