The human ClpP proteolytic complex (HsClpP) is a serine protease located in the mitochondrial matrix andparticipates in the maintenance of the mitochondrial proteome among other cellular functions. HsClpP typically forms amultimeric complex with the AAA+ protein unfoldase HsClpX. Notably, compared to that of normal, healthy cells, theexpression of HsClpP in many types of solid and nonsolid cancers is found to be upregulated. While the exact role of HsClpP intumorigenesis is not clear, certain types of cancers are highly dependent on the protease for cell proliferation and metastasis. Inlight of these observations, recent research has focused on the discovery and characterization of small organic molecules that cantarget and modulate HsClpP activity. These include compounds that inhibit HsClpP’s proteolytic activity via covalentmodification of its catalytic Ser residue as well as those that activate and dysregulate HsClpP by displacing HsClpX to negate itsregulatory role. Importantly, several of these compounds have been shown to induce HsClpP-dependent apoptotic cell death ina variety of cancerous cells. This review provides an overview of these research efforts and highlights the various types of smallmolecule modulators of HsClpP activity with respect to their potential use as cancer therapeutics.