To address whether the anti‐proliferative and apoptotic effects of acetylshikonin on colon cancer cells are dependent on intracellular p53, we treated HCT‐116 p53+/+ (p53 wild type) and HCT‐116 p53−/− (p53 deficient) colon cancer cells with various concentrations (0, 1.25, 2.5, 5, or 10 μM) of acetylshikonin for 24, 48, or 72 hr (Figure 6). Here, TP53 is linked to malignant colon neoplasm.