INTRODUCTION

Viral hepatitis, including Hepatitis B and C, is a significant global health challenge and a leading cause of mortality. In Egypt, approximately eight to ten million people are affected by these viruses, posing a serious public health threat. Chronic viral hepatitis can lead to severe complications, with cirrhosis often emerging after prolonged infection, increasing the risk of advanced liver diseases like hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Early detection of HCC is crucial, and current guidelines recommend biannual abdominal ultrasound and AFP testing for at-risk patients, though this method has limitations, including a sensitivity of only 63%.Identifying accurate biomarkers for HCC diagnosis is a priority. Glypican-3 (GPC3) and Golgi Protein 73 (GP73) have shown promise as potential biomarkers. GPC3 is highly expressed in HCC tumors and detectable in serum, while GP73 has demonstrated superior sensitivity to AFP. Despite their potential, further validation is necessary.

AIM
The present study aims to assess the serum level of GP73 and GPC-3 as diagnostic biomarkers for HCC in patients with viral hepatitis B and C liver cirrhosis.