Synthesis of a novel analog of calcitriol and its biological evaluation as antitumor agent.

•ML-344 is a novel calcitriol analog with amide and carboxyl groups in its side chain.•ML-344 has antitumor activity in cell lines representing different cancer types.•ML-344 exerts a differential action between tumor and normal cells.•ML-344 has a differential binding to VDR between tumor and normal cells.•ML-344 does not produce hypercalcemia in mice.