TP53 and cancer: Inhibition of abnormal degradation of p53 is a logical pharmacological target and, in fact, several small molecule inhibitors of the MDM2-p53 interaction including nutlin-3, RITA, spirooxindoles and quilinols are being investigated as anti-cancer agents due to their abilities to increase cellular p53 protein levels through inhibition of MDM2-directed proteosomal degradation of p53 [28].