Background  and study aim: Glypican-3 (GPC3) is common kind and new type of the Glypicans group. These groups were connected to the epithelial cell membrane by a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol bond. These proteins control the signaling action of various growth factors, especially Wnts. This reaction  is predicated on the power of glypican to initiate, promote or suppress the reaction of these growth agents with their interactive signaling receptors. It is obviously proven and documented that GPC3 is secreted and released by most malignant liver cells, this glypican is not isolated from healthy hepatocyte, cirrhotic liver cells , or in even in benign liver masses. GPC3 accelerates the development of malignant liver lesions especially HCC by stimulating canonical Wnt impulses. The study aimed to characterize and assess the diagnostic accuracy of serum glypican-3 (GPC3) in early detection of HCC in cirrhotic patients and could be used as good screening marker for HCC in cirrhotic patients instead of AFP.
Patients and Methods: We enrolled 60 patients which divided into 2 groups, group1 which included 30 patients diagnosed to have HCC and group 2 which included 30 patients diagnosed to have liver cirrhosis.
Results: Our results revealed increased levels of Glypican-3 in hepatoma group and liver cirrhosis group with no significant difference (p=0.3).
Conclusion: Serum GPC3 is not an efficient immune-marker for HCC that can be used alone to differentiate  HCC from benign hepatic focal lesions, particularly hepatocellular adenoma.