Risk of retinoblastoma is associated with a maternal polymorphism in dihydrofolatereductase (<i>DHFR</i>) and prenatal folic acid intake

Abstract

Maternal homozygosity for a polymorphism in the DHFR gene necessary for converting synthetic folic acid into biologic folate was associated with an increased risk for retinoblastoma. Prenatal ingestion of synthetic folic acid supplements may be associated with increased risk for early childhood carcinogenesis in a genetically susceptible subset of the population.