Our main findings revealed that CDDP activated p53 in APL cells through stress signals catalysed by ATM and ATR protein kinases, CHK1 and CHK2 phosphorylation at Ser 345 and Thr68 residues, and downregulation and dissociation of MDM2‐DAXX‐HAUSP complex. Here, ATM is linked to acute promyelocytic leukemia.