p53 expression levels at baseline and in response to MDM2 inhibition in CLL. Total protein from untreated, MI-61–treated, and MDM2 inhibitor (MI-63, Nutlin3)–treated cell samples was fractionated by SDS-PAGE, transferred to PVDF membrane, and prepared for immunoblotting with anti-p53 mAb. Membrane was developed using HRP-conjugated antimouse Ab followed by ECL-plus. (A) Four different CLL samples with wild-type p53 exon 5 to 9 sequence; treatments for individual samples/lanes are indicated. (B) Three different CLL samples with mutant p53 exon 5 to 9 sequence; treatments for individual samples/lanes are indicated. (C) Two CLL samples (nos. 138 and 168) with frameshift mutants of p53 compared with a wild-type CLL sample (no. 46); treatments for individual samples/lanes are indicated. (D) Three CLL samples with absent p53 expression (nos. 14, 84, and 161) compared with a wild-type CLL sample (no. 46). The position of wild-type p53 is indicated by an arrow.