To determine whether there is a functional interaction between p53 and HDAC2 during DNA damage‐induced osteosarcoma cell death, we sought to examine the expression levels of p53, p53‐target gene products and HDAC2 in p53‐wild‐type human osteosarcoma U2OS cells exposed to increasing concentrations of ADR. The gene discussed is TP53; the disease is osteosarcoma.