To further determine the role of p53 on the down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression, we compared the response to NVP-BEZ235 plus curcumin in isogenic human colon carcinoma cell lines differing only in the presence or absence of p53 [HCT116/p53(+/+) and HCT116/p53(−/−)]. The gene discussed is TP53; the disease is colon carcinoma.