Vitamin D receptor agonist/histone deacetylase inhibitor molecular hybrids.

Incorporation of zinc-binding groups into the side-chain of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25D) fully bifunctional hybrid molecules which act both as vitamin D receptor agonists and histone deacetylase inhibitors. These bifunctional hybrids display in vitro antiproliferative activity against the AT84 squamous carcinoma cell line while lacking the in vivo hypercalcemic effects of 1,25D.