Among the compounds tested, five, including the enantiomer of MANIO, all with aromatic or heteroaromatic substituents at C-3, showed selectivity towards p53-expressing cancer cells, with IC50 values in cancer cells expressing WTp53 (HCT116 p53+/+) ranging between 1.47 and 7.50 μM and IC50 > 23.50 μM in p53-null isogenic derivatives (HCT116 p53−/−). This evidence concerns the gene TP53 and cancer.