Using MDM2 antagonist nutlin-3 as selective activator of p53 pathway, we have shown that induction of cell cycle arrest can protect p53wt NSCLC (A549) cells from the cytotoxicity of taxol selectively killing of p53-/- PSCC cells (FaDu) and p53-/- NSCLC (H1299) cells. Here, TP53 is linked to non-small cell lung carcinoma.