Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a member of the
glypican family of glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-anchored cell-surface heparin
sulfate proteoglycans. The 1G12 clone has been used to assess GPC3 expression in
malignant and non-malignant tissue samples of the liver. Studies have shown that
GPC3 protein is expressed in most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), but is
undetectable in normal liver and benign hepatic lesions, including dysplastic
and cirrhotic nodules. GPC3 is also significantly elevated in the serum of most
patients with HCC. Several studies report that Glypican -3 is a sensitive
diagnostic marker for HCC and a tool for differentiating HCC from non-neoplastic
and pre-neoplastic liver disease. Our TMA-based studies have shown that
Glypican-3 is positive in 90.4% (66/73) of hepatocellular carcinoma cases, and
negative in 100% of cholangiocellular carcinoma, normal liver and hyperplasia
cases.