Glypican 3

Stains
Glypican 3 (GPC3)

Author: Nat Pernick, M.D.

Topic Completed: 1 November 2011

Revised: 5 March 2019

Copyright: 2003-2018, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

PubMed Search: GPC3

Page views in 2019: 10,281

Page views in 2020 to date: 2,991

Table of Contents

Cite this page: Pernick N. Glypican 3. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/stainsglypican3.html. Accessed April 9th, 2020.

Definition / general

Heparan sulfate proteoglycan; mutated in Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (National Institutes of Health)

Interpretation

Cytoplasmic and membranous staining

Uses by pathologists

Distinguish hepatocellular carcinoma (usually GPC3+) from nonmalignant liver (GPC3-) as part of a panel (Am J Clin Pathol 2008;130:219, Am J Surg Pathol 2008;32:433) but cirrhotic nodules may show focal strong staining (Mod Pathol 2008;21:1011)
Distinguish hepatocellular carcinoma from other primary and metastatic hepatic lesions by FNA (Mod Pathol 2008;21:626)
Distinguish ovarian yolk sac (GPC3+) from embryonal carcinoma (GCP3-) as part of a panel (Hum Pathol 2010;41:716)

Microscopic (histologic) images

Images hosted on other servers:

Staining in cirrhotic nodules (occurs occasionally)

Hepatocellular carcinoma

PSTT and other uterine / cervical lesions

Figs e / f: fibrolamellar and hepatocellular carcinoma

Positive staining - not malignant

Endometrium-gestational; hepatitis C with high grade activity (> 90%, Hum Pathol 2008;39:209)

Positive staining - tumors

Hepatocellular carcinoma (40 - 65%), fibrolamellar carcinoma (Mod Pathol 2010;23:1180), hepatoblastoma (> 90%, Hum Pathol 2008;39:224); also undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma and mesenchymal hamartoma of liver (Hum Pathol 2012;43:695)
Lung-squamous cell carcinoma (54%), testicular nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (52%), liposarcoma (52%, Am J Clin Pathol 2008;129:899)
Ovarian (> 90%) and extragonadal (> 90%) yolk sac tumors (may be focal, Am J Surg Pathol 2009;33:1529), ovarian choriocarcinoma, teratomas (variable, immature > mature, Am J Clin Pathol 2008;130:224), ovarian clear cell carcinoma (Mod Pathol 2009;22:824), placental site trophoblastic tumor (Diagn Pathol 2010;5:64)
Rhabdomyosarcomas (35%) but not other sarcomas (J Clin Pathol 2011;64:587)