In the context of the association between the p53 status and Plk1 inhibition, we have addressed two issues: first, targeting Plk1 impacts actually all rapidly dividing cells irrespective of tumor cells or normal cells, which is in line with the crucial role of Plk1 in mitosis; second, tumor cells with functional p53 exhibit a stronger apoptosis than tumor cells with inactive p53. The gene discussed is PLK1; the disease is neoplasm.