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Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem. It has been increasing in Egypt with a doubling in the incidence rate in the past 10 years.It represents the most common primary malignant tumor of the liver and is one of the major causes of death among patients with cirrhosis. Current diagnosis of HCC relies on clinical information,liver imaging and measurement of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The reported sensitivity and specificity of AFP are not sufficient for early diagnosis, and so additional marker is needed. The development of effective marker for the diagnosis of HCC could have an impact on HCC-related cancer mortality and significant public health implications worldwide. In the adult,Glypican-3 (GPC3) can only be detected in a limited number of tissues, including the lung, ovaries, mammary epithelium, and mesothelium. It is expressed in fetal livers but not in adult livers. The soluble form of GPC3 was identified in the serum of patients with hepatocellular carcinomas, and can be used as a serological test for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.It was reported that the frequency of GPC3 expression in AFPnegative HCC patients is as high as 90%,suggesting that it can be used in diagnostic of HCC. |