Background: Glypican 3, a heparan sulfate glycoprotein and oncoembryonic protein, is expressed in the syncytiotrophoblast layer of embryonic liver and placental tissue. GPC-3 has been identified as a useful tumor marker for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hepatoblastoma, melanoma, testicular germ cell tumors, and Wilms tumor. Studies have shown that GPC-3 protein is expressed in the majority of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCS) but not in normal liver or benign liver lesions, including dysplastic and cirrhotic nodules. GPC-3 is a sensitive diagnostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma and a tool to distinguish hepatocellular carcinoma from non-neoplastic liver disease and preneoplastic liver disease.