Chk1-IN-5 is primarily used in cancer research as a checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) inhibitor. It plays a significant role in studying the DNA damage response pathway, which is crucial for understanding cancer cell survival and proliferation. By inhibiting Chk1, this compound helps researchers explore mechanisms to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, particularly in sensitizing cancer cells to DNA-damaging agents. It is also utilized in preclinical studies to investigate potential therapeutic strategies for overcoming drug resistance in various cancer types.