19-Nor-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 (paricalcitol): effects on clonal proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis in human leukemic cell lines

Purpose 19-Nor-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 (paricalcitol) is an analogue of 1,25(OH)2D3 with reduced calcemic effects that is approved for the suppression of parathyroid hormone in chronic renal failure. Paricalcitol has recently been reported to have anticancer activity in prostate cancer. In order to explore paricalcitol as a potential agent against leukemia, we tested its effects on HL-60 and U937 leukemia cell lines.