Nutlin-3 is widely used in cancer research due to its ability to activate the p53 tumor suppressor pathway. It works by inhibiting the interaction between p53 and its negative regulator, MDM2, leading to stabilization and activation of p53. This triggers cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in cancer cells that express wild-type p53. It is particularly valuable in studying cancers such as sarcomas, leukemia, and certain solid tumors where the p53 pathway is intact but suppressed. Nutlin-3 also serves as a tool compound for validating MDM2 inhibitors in drug development and has shown synergistic effects when combined with chemotherapy or radiation. Its use in preclinical models helps evaluate potential therapeutic strategies targeting the p53-MDM2 axis.