Asiaticoside enhances the effect of propofol on the invasion, ferroptosis and immune escape of bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is a highly prevalent malignancy. Asiaticoside (AC), a triterpenoid derivative, exhibits antitumor effect on different tumors. This study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of AC on bladder cancer. J82 and T24 cells were treated with AC and/or propofol, and nude mice were subcutaneously administrated with T24 cells. The effect and mechanism of AC and/or propofol were explored by cell counting kit-8, transwell, flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunohistochemistry and western blot assays both in vitro and in vivo. Cell viability of J82 and T24 cells was inhibited by AC with a IC50 value of 2.43 μM and 2.16 μM, and by propofol with a IC50 value of 42.51 μM and 48.37 μM, respectively. AC or propofol alone decreased cell proliferation, invasion, and immune escape with the increased ferroptosis, as well as downregulating the level of the PI3K/AKT pathway in both animal and cell experiments. The effect of propofol on the above-mentioned indicators was further enhanced with the co-treatment of AC in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, AC promoted the ameliorative effect of propofol on bladder cancer involved in PI3K/AKT pathway.