biostudies-literatureBarrett JEAustrian Science Fund FWFForskningsrådet om Hälsa, Arbetsliv och Välfärd (Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare)European Research Council97https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11965489biostudies-literatureUnknown5(1)<h4>Background</h4>In order to advance personalized primary cancer prevention, surrogate endpoint biomarkers in distant, easy to access tissues (i.e., field defect indicators) reflecting field cancerization in the organ at risk are essential.<h4>Methods</h4>Here we utilized medroxyprogesterone acetate and 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene to induce mammary gland cancers in mice. We assessed epigenetic signatures reflective of carcinogen exposure, cell-type composition, mitotic age, and methylation at progesterone receptor binding sites in both, the tissue at risk (normal mammary gland; field cancerization) and distant non-at-risk organs (cervix, oviduct, and blood; field defect indicators), in mice that did and did not develop mammary gland cancers.<h4>Results</h4>We demonstrate that the anti-prCommunications medicineEpigenetic signatures in surrogate tissues are able to assess cancer risk and indicate the efficacy of preventive measures.PMC11965489742432P 31228-B332021-02974Kofler BIshaq Parveen IGemzell-Danielsson KWeber DDStefan VEFelder TKTevini JAlkasalias TRedl ECatalano LBarrett JEAminzadeh-Gohari SWidschwendter MRotharmel JHerzog CMLang RObrist PfalseEpigenetic signatures in surrogate tissues are able to assess cancer risk and indicate the efficacy of preventive measures.<h4>Background</h4>In order to advance personalized primary cancer prevention, surrogate endpoint biomarkers in distant, easy to access tissues (i.e., field defect indicators) reflecting field cancerization in the organ at risk are essential.<h4>Methods</h4>Here we utilized medroxyprogesterone acetate and 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene to induce mammary gland cancers in mice. We assessed epigenetic signatures reflective of carcinogen exposure, cell-type composition, mitotic age, and methylation at progesterone receptor binding sites in both, the tissue at risk (normal mammary gland; field cancerization) and distant non-at-risk organs (cervix, oviduct, and blood; field defect indicators), in mice that did and did not develop mammary gland cancers.<h4>Results</h4>We demonstrate that the anti-pr2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Apr2026-06-01T05:39:48.554Z2025-07-01T03:05:40.386ZS-EPMC119654894017563310.1038/s43856-025-00779-w