Overall our data showed that the selected marine life-derived compounds (Chromomycin A2, Psammaplin A, and Ilimaquinone) induced expression of several autophagic signaling intermediates in human squamous cell carcinoma, glioblastoma, and colorectal carcinoma cells in vitro through a transcriptional regulation by TP53 family members. The gene discussed is TP53; the disease is squamous cell carcinoma.