Abstract
Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies worldwide and one of the main causes of cancer-related mortality globally. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has insufficient sensitivity and specificity for detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Estimation of serum level of certain up regulated proteins as glypican-3 (GPC-3) in HCC could be a promising biomarker for screening and early HCC detection. Recently glypican-3 (GPC-3) was suggested as novel biomarkers for the detection HCC.
Objective: To determine the role of serum GPC-3 in the early diagnosis of HCC
Methods: The study included eighty subjects: 30 patients with HCC and elevated AFP. ; 30 with liver cirrhosis In addition, 20 healthy subjects were included as a control group. Clinical and radiological features (abdominal ultrasonography and/or abdominal triphasic computed tomography) were recorded. Liver function tests, complete blood cell count, and serum AFP were measured. Serum GPC-3 values were determined by ELISA technique.
Results: This study revealed that: Serum levels of GPC-3 were significantly elevated in patients with HCC compared with liver cirrhosis and control groups (p < 0.001). Also, serum GPC-3 levels with cut-off value of 2.72 ug/L, had a sensitivity (93.0%) and specificity (94%).
Conclusion: Glypican-3 should be included in the screening programs for early HCC detection among cirrhotic patients as a rapid, sensitive, non-invasive and cost-effective diagnostic biomarker.