Background/Aim: Growing evidence suggests that vitamin D 3 exerts anticancer effects. The present study aimed to evaluate 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 (25(OH)D 3 ) as a potential endocrine factor regulating proliferation and vitamin D receptor expression in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Cell counting after treatment was utilized to assess the effect of 25(OH)D 3 on cell proliferation. Changes in mRNA expression of the vitamin D receptors, VDR and PDIA3, were evaluated using droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR). Results: 25(OH)D 3 inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-and time-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of 25(OH)D 3 on cell proliferation was potentiated after inhibition of CYP17B1 and CYP24 by genistein, preventing further metabolism of 25(OH)D 3 to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (1,25(OH) 2 D 3 ) and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (24,25(OH) 2 D 3 ). Expression of PDIA3 and VDR mRNA increased after treatment with 25(OH)D 3 , whereas the ratio between PDIA3 and VDR mRNA remained unchanged. Conclusion: 25(OH)D 3 has a direct inhibitory effect on cell proliferation, which is enhanced and accelerated when the metabolism of 25(OH)D 3 to 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 and 24,25(OH) 2 D 3 was inhibited by the CYP17B1 and CYP24 inhibitor genistein. Furthermore, treatment with 25(OH)D 3 increased receptor transcript expression, suggesting an increased VDR stability and sensibility of the treated cells.