PLX-4720 is a selective inhibitor of the BRAF kinase, particularly effective against the BRAF V600E mutation commonly found in melanoma and other cancers. It is primarily used in research settings to study signaling pathways involved in cell growth and proliferation, especially the MAPK/ERK pathway. Due to its specificity, PLX-4720 serves as a tool compound for evaluating targeted cancer therapies and resistance mechanisms. It has also been instrumental in preclinical studies for assessing tumor response and developing combination treatments with other anticancer agents. Its structure and activity have informed the design of clinically approved BRAF inhibitors.