Mounting evidence has demonstrated that MDM2 is a key negative regulator of the p53 tumor suppressor protein, which promotes tumor growth.40 In addition to p53, a number of additional interaction partners for MDM2 have been described.41 In our study, we demonstrated that HBx promoted the stem-like properties of OV6+ CSCs via MDM2 independent of p53. The gene discussed is TP53; the disease is neoplasm.