WIKI4 is primarily used as a selective inhibitor of tankyrases, which are enzymes involved in the regulation of cellular processes such as telomere maintenance and Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Its main application lies in cancer research, where it helps modulate the Wnt pathway—a key signaling cascade often dysregulated in various tumors. By inhibiting tankyrase activity, WIKI4 promotes the stabilization of axin, a negative regulator of β-catenin, leading to reduced levels of β-catenin and suppression of downstream oncogenic signaling. This makes WIKI4 a valuable tool compound for studying pathway dynamics and evaluating potential therapeutic strategies in colorectal, liver, and other Wnt-driven cancers. It is also used in stem cell research to control differentiation and self-renewal by fine-tuning Wnt activity.