The enzyme 24-hydroxylase, also known as CYP24, metabolizes 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)] and is an established marker of vitamin D activity. Our studies evaluated the influence of a low-calcemic 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) analogue, QW-1624F2-2 (QW), on the regulation of CYP24 expression in MKL-4 cells, a metastatic mammary tumor cell model. 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and its analogue, EB 1089, stimulated CYP24 induction at both protein and transcript levels. In contrast, QW failed to produce a sustained stimulation of CYP24, due, in large part, to a reduction in the stability of the CYP24 message. QW enhanced the capacity of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and EB 1089 to inhibit tumor cell proliferation by approximately 2-fold. QW also blocked the sustained induction of CYP24 expression by 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and EB 1089, increased the potency of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and EB 1089, and inhibited breast tumor cell proliferation and invasion.