Introducci�n.- El c�ncer de pr�stata es el m�s frecuente en hombres y es la segunda causa de muerte por tipos de carcinoma en Estados Unidos. En el Ecuador, esta enfermedad ha incrementado su incidencia en los �ltimos a�os. El gen MTHFR cumple un rol importante en el metabolismo del �cido f�lico, por ende, en la s�ntesis, reparaci�n y metilaci�n del ADN. Los polimorfismos C677T y A1298C han sido asociados con defectos del tubo neural y enfermedades cerebrovasculares. El objetivo consisti� en determinar la asociaci�n de los polimorfismos previamente mencionados con las caracter�sticas patol�gicas de c�ncer prost�tico.�

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Material y m�todos.-�Estudio de caso-control desarrollado en Quito entre los a�os 2004 y 2006, donde se analizaron 104 muestras de tejido de c�ncer de pr�stata provenientes del Hospital Carlos Andrade Mar�n y del Hospital Oncol�gico Sol�n Espinosa Ayala, y 110 muestras de sangre perif�rica de individuos control. Se extrajo ADN�y se genotipific� mediante la t�cnica enzim�tica PCR-RFLP. Para el an�lisis estad�stico se aplic� las pruebas Chi-cuadrado (χ2) y Odds ratio (OR).�

Resultados.-�El genotipo MTHFR C/T y la combinaci�n de los genotipos MTHFR C/T y C/T + T/T presentaron un OR de 2,2 (IC 1,3-3,9; P = 0,008). Con respecto al polimorfismo MTHFR A1298C se observaron valores de OR no significativos.�

Conclusiones.-�Existe asociaci�n estad�sticamente significativa entre el genotipo MTHFR C/T y el c�ncer prost�tico, incrementando 2,2 veces las probabilidades de adquirir este carcinoma. Pero, no existe asociaci�n entre las caracter�sticas patol�gicas y los polimorfismos estudiados.�

Palabras clave.-��cido F�lico, C�ncer de Pr�stata, Genotipo.�

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Introduction.- Prostate cancer is the most frequent type of cancer in men and the second cause of death for this type of disease in the United States. In Ecuador the incidence of this illness has increased over the last years. The MTHFR gene plays an important role in the metabolism of folic acid; therefore, in the DNA synthesis, reparation, and methylation. The C677T and A1298C polymorphisms have been associated with defects in the neural tube and cerebrovascular diseases. The aim consisted in determining the association of the polymorphisms with pathological characteristics of prostate cancer.�

Material and methods.- Case-control study carried out in Quito between 2004 and 2006; 104 prostate cancer tissue samples, coming from Carlos Andrade Mar�n and Sol�n Espinosa Ayala Hospitals, and 110 peripheral blood samples from control subjects were analyzed. DNA was�extracted and genotypified through the PCR-RFLP enzymatic technique. The statistical analysis was applied with Chi-square (χ2) and Odds ratio (OR) tests.�

Results.- It was determined that the MTHFR C/T genotype and the combination of the MTHFR C/T and C/T + T/T genotypes obtained an OR of 2.2 (IC 1.3-3.9; P = 0.008). Considering the MTHFR A1298C polymorphism, the OR values were not significant.�

Conclusions.- There is a statistically significant association between the MTHFR C/T genotype and prostate cancer. This increases by 2.2 times theprobability of acquiring this type of cancer. On the contrary, no association was found among pathological characteristics and the studied polymorphisms.�

Keywords.- Folic Acid, Prostate Cancer, Genotype.�