This invention is in the area of improved compounds for and methods of treating selected RB-positive cancers and other Rb-positive abnormal cellular proliferative disorders while minimizing the deleterious effects on healthy cells, for example healthy Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Progenitor Cells (HSPCs), associated with current treatment modalities. In one aspect, improved treatment of select RB-positive cancers is disclosed using specific compounds disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, the compounds described herein act as highly selective and, in certain embodiments, short, transiently-acting cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK 4/6) inhibitors when administered to subjects.