Abstract: Objective To investigate specificity, sensitivity and expression of glypican-3(GPC3) in well differentiated, moderately or poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) groups Methods Seventy cases with HCC were chosen from our hospital from Dec. 2009 to Sep. 2010. Expression of GPC3 in HCC as well as in non-HCC surrounding tissue was observed by immunohistochemical-staining and detection rate of GPC3 was calculated. Seventy cases were divided into two groups, well differentiated and moderately/poorly differentiated groups. Correlation between GPC3 and Ki67 were analyzed in two groups. Results 1 Staining for GPC3 was positive only in HCC tissues, and was negative in non-HCC surrounding tissue of HCC. Detection rate of GPC3 was 85% in two groups, positive rate 73% in the well differentiated group, 90% in the moderately/poorly differentiated group. 2 Staining intensity was middle/strong for GPC3 in two cases, accounting for 10% in the well differentiated group, 38 cases(74.8%) in the mediately/ poorly differentiated group. Expression of GPC3 was significantly different in well differentiated group and moderately/poorly differentiated group(P<0.01). 3 In none of the cases the expression level of the Ki67 was moderate and strong(++, +++). In 37 cases(72%) of the moderately/poorly differentiated group, the expression was moderately strong. Expression of Ki67 was significantly different in well, moderately/poorly differentiated group(P<0.01). Staining intensity of GPC3 was correlated with expression of Ki67(P<0.01). Conclusion Expression of GPC3 is of the high degree of specificity and sensitivity in HCC. GPC3 may have important value in pathological diagnosis of HCC.

Key words: hepatocellular carcinoma, differentiation, specificity, sensitivity, glypican-3, Ki67