Diagnostic and prognostic role of serum glypican 3 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

α‐Feto protein (AFP) is the widely used tumor marker in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic and prognostic validity of a novel marker, serum Glypican‐3 (GPC3) and to compare AFP in patients with HCC. One hundred and twenty‐eight patients (75 patients with HCC, 55 patients with cirrhosis, and 28 healthy controls) were included in this study. Cut‐off value of GPC3 was 3.9 pg/ml. AFP was divided into four subgroups, according to cut‐off values with 13, 20, 100, and 200 ng/ml. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of GPC3 and AFP13, AFP20, AFP100, AFP200 subgroups and also GPC3+AFP13, GPC3+AFP20, GPC3+AFP100, GPC3+AFP200 combinations were compared. Serum GPC3 levels were significantly higher in patients with HCC and cirrhosis compared with control subjects (P