We have previously shown that loss of p53 function in A2780 human ovarian adenocarcinoma cells confers increased clonogenic resistance to several DNA-damaging agents, but not to taxol or camptothecin. We have now extended these studies, comparing wild-type p53-expressing A2780 cells with isogenic derivatives transfected with a dominant negative mutant (143; val to ala) p53. We show that, as well as retaining equivalent clonogenic sensitivity to camptothecin, mutant p53 transfectants of A2780 cells do not acquire significantly increased resistance to the camptothecin analogues topotecan and SN-38, the active metabolite of CPT-11. Compared with vector-alone transfectants they are, however, relatively (2.2-fold) resistant to GI 147211, a further camptothecin analogue undergoing clinical trial. Treatment of A2780 with camptothecin and each analogue produces an increase, maximal at 24-48 h after drug exposure, of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle and a decrease in both G1 and S-phase cells. The G2 arrest is independent of p53 function for camptothecin and the three analogues. All four compounds can induce apoptosis in A2780, which is reduced in mutant p53 transfectants, as measured using the terminal DNA transferase-mediated b-d UTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay. Thus, although p53-dependent apoptosis is induced by camptothecin, topotecan and SN-38 in this human ovarian carcinoma cell line, these drugs induce p53-independent death, as measured by clonogenic assay.