Azaserine is primarily used in research settings as a tool to study biochemical pathways, particularly those involving glutamine metabolism. It acts as an inhibitor of glutamine-dependent enzymes, making it valuable for investigating the role of glutamine in cellular processes such as nucleotide synthesis. In cancer research, azaserine is employed to explore the metabolic dependencies of tumor cells, as many cancers rely heavily on glutamine for growth and survival. Additionally, it has been used in experimental studies to model pancreatic carcinogenesis in animals, helping researchers understand the mechanisms of cancer development and progression. Its ability to interfere with essential metabolic pathways makes it a useful compound for probing cellular biology and disease mechanisms.