title: [Expression features of glypican-3 and its diagnostic and differential values in hepatocellular carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression features of glypican-3 (GPC-3) and its diagnostic and differential values in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Rat hepatoma models were made and the dynamic expression features of GPC-3 protein and its gene were investigated by Western blotting and RT-PCR respectively. Liver specimens from 36 HCC patients were collected by self-control method and the expression and clinicopathological features of GPC-3 were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Serum GPC-3 levels were quantitatively detected by ELISA and its efficiency for HCC diagnosis was evaluated in patients with liver diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of GPC-3 was 0% in control, 83.3% in degeneration, 100% in precancerosis and 100% in canceration during dynamic formation of rat hepatoma, respectively. The positive GPC-3 was brown granule- like staining localized in membrane and cytoplasm in human HCC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The GPC-3 positive rates were 80.6% in HCC, 41.7% in surrounding tissues and none in distal tissues (P < 0.01), respectively. No positive relationship presented between GPC-3 and differentiation grade or the number of tumor except of tumor size (Z = 2.941, P < 0.01). The incidence of serum GPC-3 was 52.8% in HCC patients except of one patient with cirrhosis. No significant differences were found between GPC-3 and sex, age, AFP, tumor number, Child classification or extrahepatic metastasis except of tumor size (χ² = 6.318, P < 0.05) and HBV infection (χ² = 23.362, P < 0.01). Combined detection of GPC-3 and AFP could rise up diagnosis of HCC. GPC-3 expression closely associated with HCC and might be useful for early diagnosis of HCC.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Medicine Research Center, Affiliated Hospital, Nantong University, Nantong Jiangsu Province 226001, China.
authors.forename: Yin-zhu
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.forename: Deng-fu
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Chong-guo
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shan-shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zhi-zhen
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Li-wei
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Dan-dan
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D053673:Glypicans / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053673:Glypicans