A variety of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines are produced during the cooking of meat at high temperatures. These carcinogens are metabolized by N-acetyltransferases (NAT), which are polymorphic in the population. This study examined associations between prostate cancer (PCa) and the consumption of different kinds of meat, heterocyclic amine intake and NAT genotypes. PCa patients and controls were recruited in the Syracuse, NY area. Levels of meat and heterocyclic amine intakes were determined from validated surveys and NAT genotypes were determined by the sequences of PCR-amplified DNA from buccal swabs. A total of 152 cases and 161 controls were eligible for analysis. There was an association between PCa and history of PCa in the first-degree blood relatives (OR = 4.59, 95% CI 2.21-9.70), and family history of bladder cancer (P < 0.02). However, there was no association with the history of other cancers. There was no association between PCa and either 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) intake, or NAT1 and NAT2 genotypes. However, there was a trend of association with MeIQx and with rapid NAT2 and NAT1*10 in combination with PhIP. A new NAT1 allele with a frequency of one out of 544 chromosomes was found in the Caucasian subjects.