Fe-SOD cooperates with Nutlin3 to selectively inhibit cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

► Fe-SOD selectively targeted cancer cells independent of p53 status. ► Co-treatment of Fe-SOD and Nutlin3 showed synergistic inhibition on cancer cells in vitro. ► p27 was synergistically induced by Fe-SOD and p53. ► Co-treatment of Fe-SOD and Nutlin3 further exhibited synergistic inhibition on tumor growth in vivo.