To investigate whether MELK inhibition can induce p21 in a p53-independent manner, we transfected siRNA targeting MELK in HCT116 colon cancer cells with p53 wild-type, HCT116-p53(+/+), and its derivative p53-nulll cells HCT116-p53(-/-). This evidence concerns the gene CDKN1A and colonic neoplasm.