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.