AIM:To investigate the diagnostic value of glypican-3(GPC3) and its relationship with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) recurrence after liver transplantation.METHODS:HCC tissue samples(n = 31) obtained from patients who had undergone liver transplantation were analyzed.GPC3 mRNA and protein expression were analyzed by TaqMan real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry.Correlation between the GPC3 expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed.The potential prognostic value of GPC3 was investigated by comparing recurrence-free survival between HCC patients with and without GPC3 expression.RESULTS:Using a cutoff value of 3.5 × 10-2,20 of 31 cancerous tissues had expression values of > 3.5 × 10-2,whereas 3 of 31 adjacent non-neoplastic parenchyma and 0 of 20 control liver tissues had expression values of > 3.5 × 10-2(P < 0.001).GPC3 protein was immunoexpressed in 68% of cancerous tissues,but not in adjacent non-neoplastic parenchyma and control liver tissues.Vascular invasion was significantly related to GPC3 expression(P < 0.05).Recurrence-free survival was significantly longer for patients without GPC3 mRNA overexpression(> 3.5 × 10-2) and those without vascular invasion(P < 0.05 for both).CONCLUSION:GPC3 expression may serve as a valuable diagnostic marker for HCC.GPC3 mRNA overexpression may be an adverse indicator for HCC patients after liver transplantation. AIM: To investigate the diagnostic value of glypican-3 (GPC3) and its relationship with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after liver transplantation. METHODS: HCC tissue samples (n = 31) obtained from patients who had undergone liver transplantation were analyzed. mRNA and protein expression were analyzed by TaqMan real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Correlation between the GPC3 expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed. potential potential values ​​of GPC3 was investigated by comparing recurrence-free survival between HCC patients with and without GPC3 expression.RESULTS: Using a cutoff value of 3.5 × 10-2,20 of 31 cancerous tissues had expression values ​​of> 3.5 × 10-2, but 3 of 31 adjacent non-neoplastic parenchyma and 0 of 20 control liver tissues had expression values ​​of> 3.5x10-2 (P <0.001) .PCR protein was immunoexpressed in 68% of cancerous tissues, but not in adjacent non-neoplastic parenchyma and con (P <0.05 for both), but no GPC3 mRNA overexpression (> 3.5 × 10-2) and those without vascular invasion ) .CONCLUSION: GPC3 expression may serve as a valuable diagnostic marker for HCC. GPCR mRNA overexpression may be an adverse indicator for HCC patients after liver transplantation.