This technology includes a novel pyrazole-based compound NCGC00274266 (MLS000714501) that inhibits LDH-A with an IC50 of approximately 20 µM with low efficacy that can be used as an anti-cancer therapeutic. Structure-activity relationship studies on this compound led to hydroxypryazole-based compounds and discovery that the hydroxypyrazole compound and related analogs demonstrated a strong metal-dependent activity. These efforts have ultimately led to derivatives of compounds of NCGC00345087 which have abrogated the Zn++ requirement for LDH-A inhibition and exhibit low nanomolar potency and favorable ADME properties. Agents that target enzymes involved in cancer cell metabolism are important because of their potential to preferentially target cancer tissues over normal tissues.