NSC617145, as a WRN inhibitor, is primarily used in research focused on targeting cancers with microsatellite instability (MSI). It works by inhibiting the WRN helicase, which is essential for the survival of MSI-high cancer cells. This makes it a potential therapeutic agent for treating colorectal, gastric, and endometrial cancers that exhibit MSI. Additionally, it is studied for its role in synthetic lethality, where it selectively kills cancer cells while sparing normal cells, offering a promising approach for precision medicine in oncology. Its application extends to understanding DNA repair mechanisms and developing strategies to combat treatment-resistant cancers.