These compounds (illustrated here by compound 23 (see additional data file 1) (Figure 4g) and a family including compounds 24a, b and c (see additional data file 1) (Figures 4h-4k)) have been shown to decrease cancer cell proliferation using a cell viability assay and to increase p53-dependent transcription using stable cells carrying a p53-dependent transcriptional regulatory element linked to a luciferase reporter gene. This evidence concerns the gene TP53 and cancer.