Synthetic Lethality as Emerging Treatment for Cancer: An Example by Using the Werner Syndrome Helicase (WRN) Inhibitors.

The invention in this patent application relates to chemical compounds represented herein generally by Formula 1a. These compounds are inhibitors of the Werner Syndrome ATP-dependent helicase (WRN) enzyme activity. The compounds of the invention may particularly be useful in treating cancers characterized by microsatellite instability (MSI) and/or defective DNA mismatch repair (dMMR) system.