To determine the extent of p53 activation in response to pharmacological CDK inhibition, we stably transfected melanoma cell lines A375 and MEL-JUSO with pGL4.38[luc2P/p53 RE/Hygro] luciferase reporter construct and measured luciferase activity in lysates of cells treated with two CDKIs under clinical development, R-roscovitine (seliciclib) and flavopiridol (alvocidib). Here, TP53 is linked to melanoma.