Activating transcription factor 3 gene expression suggests that tissue stress plays a role in leiomyoma development.

Objective: To determine whether expression of the stress response gene ATF3 and related members of activator protein complex-1, cJun and cFos, were altered in leiomyoma compared with myometrium, and whether this difference might correlate with leiomyoma size or race.

Design: Laboratory study.

Setting: University hospital.