الفهرس 
Glypican 3 expression in urothelial carcinoma
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Abstract
Background: Glypican 3 (GPC3) is an oncofetal protein, playing a role in cell regulation during fetal development, via Wingless/Integration (Wnt) signaling pathway. GPC3 immunohistochemical expression was detected in several tumors, most obvious in hepatocellular carcinoma. GPC3 antibody is under clinical trials for therapeutic approach of hepatocellular carcinoma. Aim of Work: Assessment of immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of GPC3 in urothelial carcinoma (UC), to detect its possible role in stimulating Wnt signaling which is supposed to be partially responsible for urothelial carcinogenesis.Methods: This study consisted of 125 cases of urothelial carcinoma, included 90 cases of radical cystectomies with high grade UC & 35 cases of transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURT) with low grade UC. IHC was carried out using GPC3 monoclonal antibody. Positive expression was considered when < 10% of tumor cells showed cytoplasmic &/or membranous GPC3 expression, regardless of the intensity. Results: GPC3 expression was positive in 18 cases (14.4%) & negative in 107 cases (85.6%). Two of the positive cases were low grade UC & sixteen were high grade UC. Normal adjacent urothelium was detected in three cases, showing negative GPC3 expression. There was a statistically significant correlation between GPC3 expression and tumor stage. However, no statistically significant correlation detected between GPC3 expression and any of [age, sex, tumor histological subtype, site, gross appearance, size, grade, invasion, multifocality, associated urinary bladder bilharziasis, lymphovascular emboli, perineural invasion & lymph node stage]. Conclusion: GPC3 could be useful in differentiation between low &high grade UC (2/18 & 16/18 respectively). GPC3 may differentiate between neoplastic &non neoplastic urothelial tissue. GPC3 plays a potential role in urothelial carcinogenesis which needs further investigation, for the possibility of therapeutic approach