Herein disclosed are compounds, compositions, kits, and methods of treating cancers using 7-azaindolyl furanone/thiophene derivatives. These derivatives inhibit serine-threonine kinase Cdc7, a recognized anticancer target affecting DNA replication. Further, the compounds disclosed herein possess potent inhibitory activity in the presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), demonstrate significant kinase selectivity, and offer advantages over known Cdc7 inhibitors with prolonged half-life and inhibitory effects.