The effects of two vitamin D analogues, EB1089 and CB1093, on insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) expression have been examined in MCF-7 and Hs578T human breast cancer cell lines. Both vitamin D analogues inhibited IGF-1 stimulated growth of MCF-7 cells and enhanced the production of IGFBP-3 as determined by Western-ligand blotting. Recombinant human IGFBP-3 inhibited the growth of MCF-7 cells over the concentration range 1-235 ng/ml. Hs578T cells were unresponsive to the mitogenic effects of IGF-1 but growth was inhibited by the two vitamin D analogues. Treatment of Hs578T cells with EB1089 and CB1093 (10 nM) as well as 100 nM 9-cis retinoic acid (9-cis RA) or all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) was associated with increased accumulation of IGFBP-3 in conditioned medium. Furthermore, cotreatment of Hs578T cells with EB1089 and 9-cis RA led to augmented effects on both inhibition of cell growth and IGFBP-3 accumulation in conditioned medium as assessed by Western ligand blotting and radioimmunoassay. These findings suggest a role for IGFBP-3 in the growth inhibitory effects of vitamin D analogues.