Using high-throughput screening with small-molecule libraries, we identified a compound, KCG165 [(2-(3-(2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethoxy)1,10b-dihydro-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]qu inazolin-5(6H)-one)], which strongly activated p53-mediated transcriptional activity. KCG165-induced phosphorylations of p53 at Ser(6), Ser(15), and Ser(20) which are all key residues involved in the activation and stabilization of p53. Consistent with these findings, KCG165 increased level of p53 protein and led to the accumulation of transcriptionally active p53 in the nucleus with the increased occupancy of p53 in the endogenous promoter region of its downstream target gene, p21(WAF11CIP). Notably, KCG165-induced p53-dependent apoptosis in cancer cells. Furthermore, we suggested topoisomerase 11 as the molecular target of KCG165. Together, these results indicate that KCG165 may have potential applications as an antitumor agent. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.