Glypican 3 Expression in Human Nonneoplastic, Preneoplastic, and Neoplastic Tissues

Abstract

Several studies have shown that glypican 3 (GPC3) could be a useful diagnostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and for differentiating HCC from nonneoplastic and preneoplastic liver disease. To systematically investigate the epidemiology of GPC3 expression in the liver and in other organs and tissues, we used tissue microarray technology comprising 4,387 tissue samples from 139 tumor categories and 36 nonneoplastic and preneoplastic tissue types. The immunohistochemical expression of GPC3 was assessed semiquantitatively using a 10% cutoff score and was detected in 9.2% of nonneoplastic liver samples (11/119), 16% of preneoplastic nodular liver lesions (6/38), and 63.6% of HCCs (140/220), underlining the role of GPC3 in hepatocarcinogenesis. Furthermore, several other tumors revealed consistent expression of GPC3, including squamous cell carcinoma of the lung (27/50 [54%]), testicular nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (32/62 [52%]), and liposarcoma (15/29 [52%]).

Immunohistochemical pitfalls and the importance of glypican 3 and arginase in the diagnosis of scirrhous hepatocellular carcinoma

“…[22][23][24][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] GPC3 is not a specific marker for hepatocellular differentiation and is expressed in a variety of other tumors, most of which do not share clinical or morphological resemblance to hepatocellular carcinoma. 39 Expression in cholangiocarcinoma has been described but is rare (o5% based on combined results of five studies including the present). [39][40][41][42] GPC3 expression was seen in 79% of scirrhous hepatocellular carcinoma and 6% (1 case) of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in our study.…”

“…39 Expression in cholangiocarcinoma has been described but is rare (o5% based on combined results of five studies including the present). [39][40][41][42] GPC3 expression was seen in 79% of scirrhous hepatocellular carcinoma and 6% (1 case) of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in our study. Hence, GPC3 expression favors hepatocellular carcinoma over intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, even though it is not entirely specific in this context.…”

Prevalence of the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres Telomere Maintenance Mechanism in Human Cancer Subtypes

“…To confirm and expand on these findings, we further assessed the ALT phenotype in a second set of multitumor TMAs (set 2), which had previously been used to validate other molecular markers. 18 This set of tumors consisted of 2109 primary tumor specimens from 61 different cancer subtypes. Set 2 included types similar to the first set, but also included hematopoietic and neuroendocrine neoplasms, as well as tumors arising from the oral cavity, pleura, tendon sheath, testis, and thyroid (Table 1).…”

Therapeutic Potential of Targeting Glypican-3 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

“…A comprehensive tissue microarray analysis with the 1G12 monoclonal antibody (mAb) to GPC3 shows the pattern of expression in pre-neoplastic, neoplastic and non-neoplastic tissues [25]. 4387 tissue samples from 139 tumor classifications and 36 pre-and nonneoplastic tissues were studied.…”