Definition: Glypican 3 (GPC3) is a membrane-bound heparin sulfate proteoglycan. It play a role in promoting embryonic cell growth and differentiation. GPC3 is mutated in Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome, characterized by tissue overgrowth and an increased risk of embryonal malignancies. Locus SGBS1 at Xq26 (MIM.312870)
Functions
Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a member of the glypican family (GPCs), a group of heparan sulfate proteoglycans linked to the cell surface through a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor.
Glypicans play an important role in cell growth, differentiation, and migration.
Pathology
germline mutations in the gene for glypican-3 (GPC3) in Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (MIM.312870)
Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a histological and serological marker of HCC.
- Glypican-3 has been shown to be a useful immunohistochemical biomarker of HCC.
- Glypican-3 has been detected in the serum of HCC patients, and is a candidate serum biomarker for the early detection of this form of cancer.
Expression in tumors
tumor marker for melanoma (15475451)
Although down-regulation of this protein has been shown in several cancers and cell lines, including mesothelioma and ovarian and breast cancers, GPC3 is highly expressed, both at the mRNA and protein level, in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). The timing of GPC3 expression in liver carcinogenesis is unknown.
GPC3 is over-expressed genes in
- testicular yolk sac tumors (100%) (17122513)
- choriocarcinoma (100%) (17122513)
- teratomas with immature elements (38%) (17122513)
- embryonal carcinoma (8%) (17122513)
no immunoreactivity in
- benign testicular tissue (17122513)
- intratubular germ cell neoplasia (ITGCN) (17122513)
- seminomas (17122513)
- teratomas with mature elements (17122513)
See also
glypicans (GPCs)
References
Esheba GE, Pate LL, Longacre TA. Oncofetal Protein Glypican-3 Distinguishes Yolk Sac Tumor From Clear Cell Carcinoma of the Ovary. Am J Surg Pathol. 2008 Feb 14; PMID: 18277882
Zynger DL, Dimov ND, Luan C, Tean Teh B, Yang XJ. Glypican 3: A Novel Marker in Testicular Germ Cell Tumors. Am J Surg Pathol. 2006 Dec;30(12):1570-1575. PMID: 17122513
Wang XY, Degos F, Dubois S, Tessiore S, Allegretta M, Guttmann RD, Jothy S, Belghiti J, Bedossa P, Paradis V. Glypican-3 expression in hepatocellular tumors: diagnostic value for preneoplastic lesions and hepatocellular carcinomas. Hum Pathol. 2006 Nov;37(11):1435-41. PMID: 16949914
Nakatsura T, Kageshita T, Ito S, Wakamatsu K, Monji M, Ikuta Y, Senju S, Ono T, Nishimura Y. Identification of glypican-3 as a novel tumor marker for melanoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2004 Oct 1;10(19):6612-21. PMID: 15475451
