To detect the concentration of Glypican-3(GPC3) protein in serum and to explore its diagnostic value for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).

The concentration of serum GPC3 in 67 HCC patients, 41 patients with liver cirrhosis and 30 healthy subjects controls were detected by Enzyme-linked immunos-orbent assay(ELISA). Serum alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) level was detected by chemilum-inesence immunoassay.

The mean concentration of serum GPC3 was (10.85±0.58)μg/L, (2.45±0.61)μg/L and (1.14±0.22)μg/L in HCC patients, liver cirrhosis patients and healthy subjects. The concentration of serum GPC3 protein in HCC patients was markly higher than in liver cirrhosis patients and healthy subjects(H=327.000,P=0.0001), but there was comparable between liver cirrhosis patients and healthy subjects (Z=0.792, P=0.429). At a cut off value of 3μg/L, the diagnostic sensitivity and specifity of GPC3 for HCC were 88.1% and 85.9%, respectively. And at a cut off value of 20 μg/L, the diagnostic sensitivity and specifity of AFP for HCC were 65.7% and 76.2%, respectively. The sensitivity of GPC3 was significantly higher than that of AFP (χ²=10.995, P=0.001). In the 23 HCC patients whose AFP<20 μg/L, the positive rate of GPC3 protein was 73.9% (17/23). The surface area under ROC curve of GPC3 was larger than that of AFP(0.898 vs 0.814).

Serum GPC3 is highly sensitive and specific for detecting HCC. It can be used as a new marker for the diagnosis of HCC.