肝癌组织甲胎蛋白表达特点及其基因片段的扩增分析

目的探讨肝癌组织甲胎蛋白(AFP)表达的病理学特点及其基因分析的临床价值。方法以免疫组织化学法研究AFP在肝癌及癌周组织中的胞内分布及其表达;并从肝癌的癌灶、癌旁组织中制备总RNA,以巢式聚合酶链反应(nested_PCR)扩增不同癌组织AFP_mRNA片段,以探讨AFP表达的临床病理学特征及其AFP_mRNA分析的应用价值。结果肝癌细胞及癌旁肝细胞的胞浆中,均可见AFP阳性的棕黄色颗粒,癌组织中AFP阳性表达率为73.3%,癌旁组织中为40.0%,中、低分化组肝癌中AFP的表达阳性率明显高于高分化组肝癌(P<0.05),且癌旁组织中AFP的表达强度明显低于肝癌的癌灶组织。肝癌组织、癌周组织的总RNA表达水平存在差别,癌组织中AFP_mRNA片段扩增全数阳性(100%),显著高于癌周组织(P<0.01)。结论肝癌不同组织中AFP表达存在差异,AFP_mRNA分析有助于肝癌的早期发现和诊断。     

肝癌特异性AFP亚组分联合AFP-mRNA对肝癌诊断与鉴别价值

目的 探讨甲胎蛋白（AFP）基因及肝癌特异性AFP亚组份（AFP-L3）在肝癌早期诊断和鉴别诊断中的价值。方法 从肝病患者外周血中制备总RNA，以逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）扩增AFP基因。用小扁豆凝集素亲和层析法分离血清中AFP-L3，放射免疫法测定AFP及AFP-L3。结果 在肝癌和肝硬化病人中AFP-L3阳性率分别为91．7％（110／120）和18％（9／50），AFP-mRNA阳性率分别为56．7％（68／120）和16％（8／50），两者总阳性率分别为95％（114／120）和26％（13／50）。正常对照组AFP-L3及AFP-mRNA均为阴性。肝癌病人AFP-L3％及AFP-mRNA阳性率明显高于肝硬化及正常对照组（P〈0．01）。AFP-L3及AFP-mRNA与肿瘤大小、数目等无关（P〉0．05），而与肿瘤分化程度、是否转移及有无复发等明显相关（P〈0．05）。结论 外周血AFP-L3及AFP-mRNA检测特异性强、敏感性高，有助于肝癌诊断与鉴别诊断、肝外转移或术后复发监测。     

Tissue microarray for high-throughput analysis of gene expression profiles in hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To study the expression profiles of HBsAg, HBcAg, p21WAF1/CIP1 (p21), Rb genes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to investigate their roles in the hepatocar-cinogenesis. METHODS: HCC tissue microarray containing 120-min tissues of 40 HCC cases was constructed. HBsAg, HBcAg, p21 and Rb proteins were immunohistochemically stained by streptavidin-peroxidase conjugated method (S-P). The expression loss of these genes in cancerous, para-cancerous tissues and adjacent normal liver tissues of 40 HCCs were comparatively examined. RESULTS: The positive rate of HBsAg expression in cancerous tissues of 40 HCCs was 7.5%, which was lower than that in para-cancerous and adjacent normal liver tissues (X2=12.774, P<0.01; X2=18.442, P<0.01). The positive rate of HBcAg expression in cancerous tissues of 40 HCCs was 20.0%, which was also lower than that in para-cancerous and adjacent normal liver tissues (X2=9.482, P<0.01; X2=14.645, P<0.01). p21 protein deletion rate in cancerous tissues of 40 HCCs was 27.5%, which was higher than that in para-cancerous and adjacent normal liver tissues (X2=7.439, P<0.01; X2=11.174, P<0.01). p21 protein deletion correlated remarkably with the pathological grade of HCC (X2=0.072, P<0.05). Rb protein deletion rate in cancerous tissues of 40 HCCs was 42.5%, which was also higher than that in para-cancerous and adjacent normal liver tissues (X2=10.551, P<0.01; X2=18.353, P<0.01). Rb protein deletion rate did not correlate remarkably with tumor size or pathological grade of HCC (X2=0.014, P>0.05; X2=0.017, P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Expression deletion of HBsAg, HBcAg, p21 and Rb proteins in HCCs may play important roles in the carcinogenesis of HCC. Tissue microarray is an effective high-throughput technique platform for cancer research.     

Immunohistologic study on the expressions of alpha-fetoprotein and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II in surgically resected small hepatocellular carcinoma.

Sixty-eight cases of single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with less than 3 cm of diameter were immunohistochemically examined for the expressions of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II). In cancerous tissues, the expression rate was significantly higher for PIVKA-II (34 cases [50%]) than AFP (21 cases [31%]) (P <.05), suggesting a higher specificity of PIVKA-II to small HCC. Sixteen of the 68 cases (24%) were positive to both AFP and PIVKA-II, and in 8 of the 16 cases, AFP and PIVKA-II expressing areas within a nodule were clearly divided by a fibrous septum. According to histologic grades, PIVKA-II expression was confirmed in 2 of the 15 well-differentiated HCCs, and in the well-differentiated component of 6 of the 12 "nodule-in-nodule"-type well-differentiated HCCs. AFP expression was not found in well-differentiated HCCs, but found in 16 of the 40 moderately differentiated HCCs (40%) and in the moderately differentiated component of 3 of the 12 "nodule-in-nodule"-type well-differentiated HCCs. The positive rate in the tissues was correlated to the serum levels for both AFP and PIVKA-II. In addition, frequency of tissue-PIVKA-II expression was higher than tissue-AFP expression in the cases whose serum protein level was within the normal range. This indicates that AFP and PIVKA-II have different patterns of tissue expression and of secretion to the blood. In comparison with tissue-AFP-negative cases, tissue-AFP-positive HCCs had a larger tumor size, higher frequencies of portal vein invasion and intrahepatic metastasis, a high Ki-67 labeling index, and a lower rate of recurrence-free survival. Thus, tissue-AFP-positive HCCs are suggested to be biologically more malignant than those HCCs that are AFP-negative and PIVKA-II-positive.     

Expression and significance of new inhibitor of apoptosis protein survivin in hepatocellular carcinoma

AM: To investigate expression and significance of inhibitor of apoptosis protein survivin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: The expression of survivin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was investigated in 38 cases of HCC tissues and 38 liver cirrhosis tissues by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The relationship between the expression of survivin and clinicopathological factors of HCC was analyzed. RESULTS: Survivin protein was detected in 23 (60.5%) of 38 HCCs and 3 (7.9%) of 38 liver cirrhosis tissues. In 23 cases of HCC which expressed survivin, the expression of VEGF was positive in 18 cases and slight positive or negative in 5 cases. While in 15 cases of HCC which did not express survivin, 12 cases did not express or slightly expressed, and 3 cases expressed VEGF. In liver cirrhosis tissues, the expression of VEGF was as follows: 24 cases were negative, 10 cases were weak positive and 4 cases were strong positive. The expression of survivin was coincident with the expression of VEGF in HCC (P<0.01). The expression of survivin in HCC had no relationship with the patients' age, gender, tumor size and differentiation level of HCC, while it was related to the metastasis of HCC. The protein quantitative analysis by Western blot also showed that overexpression of survivin in HCC was closely correlated to the expression of VEGF (P<0.01). Furthermore, stronger expression of survivin and VEGF was also found in patients with metastasis rather than in those with no metastasis (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Survivin plays a pivotal role in the metastasis of HCC, and it has some correlation with tumorigenesis. The expression of survivin in the primary lesion is very useful as an indicator for metastasis and prognosis of HCC. It could become a new target of gene therapy of HCC.     

人肝癌组织血管内皮生长因子及微血管密度分析的临床价值

目的 探讨血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)在肝癌(HCC)微血管形成、生长和转移方面的作用。 方法 以免疫组织化学法分析36例HCC组织中VEGF表达状态和细胞内分布,采用微血管染色方法测定微血管密度(MVD),并定量检测癌及癌周组织中总RNA和VEGF水平。 结果 所有HCC组织中VEGF阳性率为63.9％,无包膜组为78.3％,伴有远处转移组为90.9％;VEGF表达与MVD密切相关(t=4.49,,P<0.01);HCC组织VEGF水平或MVD值,在肿瘤直径大小组及肿瘤分化程度高低组间差异无显著性;HCC组织总RNA水平低于癌旁及远癌组织,而VEGF水平明显高于癌旁和远癌组织(q=6.10,P<0.01)。 结论VEGF过度表达和MVD异常是反映HCC侵润生长及转移的有效指标。     

磷脂酰肌醇蛋白聚糖-3的表达特征及其在肝癌诊断与鉴别诊断中的价值

目的 研究磷脂酰肌醇蛋白聚糖-3(GPC-3)的表达特征及其在肝癌诊断与鉴别诊断中的临床价值.方法 制作鼠肝癌模型,并按病理组织检查结果分为正常组、肝细胞变性组(变性组)、癌前病变组(癌前组)和肝细胞癌组(癌变组).以Western blot和逆转录-聚合酶链反应分别观察GPC-3蛋白质及mRNA的动态表达;以自身配对法收集术后肝癌组织,根据其组织学类型分为肝癌组、癌旁组、远癌组,以免疫组织化学法分析GPC-3表达与病理学特征的关系;以酶联免疫吸附法定量分析肝病患者外周血GPC-3表达水平,并评价其诊断效率.多个样本均数比较用单因素方差分析,组间GPC-3的表达及病理学特征比较用单因素秩和检验,血清GPC-3比较用秩和检验,率的比较采用x2检验或Fisher's exact分析,以受试者工作特征曲线下面积比较GPC-3诊断肝癌的敏感性、特异性及诊断效率.结果 在鼠肝癌形成过程中,正常、变性、癌前和癌变组GPC-3阳性率分别为0(0/6)、83.3%(15/18)、100.0%(9/9)和100.0%(9/9).人肝癌组织GPC-3阳性呈棕黄色颗粒状染色,定位于胞质和细胞膜,肝癌、癌旁和远癌组的阳性率分别为80.6%、41.7%和0,肝癌组明显高于远癌组(x2=48.56,P＜0.01)和癌旁组(x2=11.455,P＜0.01);癌旁组明显高于远癌组(x2=18.94,P＜0.01).GPC-3表达与肿瘤分化程度和数目间未见明显相关,与瘤体大小有关(Z=2.941,P＜0.01).肝病患者血清GPC-3异常主要见于肝癌(52.8%,65/123),且在不同性别、年龄、甲胎蛋白水平、肿瘤数目、Child分级和肝外转移者间未见明显差异;但肝癌＜3.0cm组明显高于≥3.0cm组(x 2=6.318,P＜0.05); HBsAg阳性组明显高于阴性组(x 2=23.362,P＜0.01).GPC-3与甲胎蛋白(＞20 μg/L)联合诊断肝癌的敏感度、特异度、准确度、阳性预测值和阴性预测值分别为87.00%、79.66%、82.17%、69.03%和92.16%.结论 GPC-3表达与肝癌密切相关,其表达的检测有助于肝癌早期诊断和鉴别诊断.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate the expression features of glypican-3 (GPC-3)and its diagnostic and differential values in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Rat hepatoma models were made and the dynamic expression features of GPC-3 protein and its gene were investigated by Western blotting and RT-PCR respectively. Liver specimens from 36 HCC patients were collected by self-control method and the expression and clinicopathological features of GPC-3 were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Serum GPC-3 levels were quantitatively detected by ELISA and its efficiency for HCC diagnosis was evaluated in patients with liver diseases. Results The incidence of GPC-3 was 0% in control, 83.3% in degeneration, 100% in precanceration and 100% in canceration during dynamic formation of rat hepatoma, respectively. The positive GPC-3 was brown granule-like staining localized in membrane and cytoplasm in human HCC.The GPC-3 positive rates were 80.6% in HCC, 41.7% in surrounding tissues and none in distal tissues (P＜0.01), respectively. No positive relationship presented between GPC-3 and differentiation grade or the number of minor except of rumor size (Z=2.941, P＜0.01). The incidence of serum GPC-3 was 52.8% in HCC patients except of one patient with cirrhosis. No significant differences were found between GPC-3 and sex, age, AFP, mm or number, Child classification or extrahepatic metastasis except of rumor size (x2 = 6.318, P＜0.05) and HBV infection (x2 = 23.362,P＜0.01). Combined detection of GPC-3 and AFP could rise up diagnosis of HCC. Conclusions GPC-3 expression closely associated with HCC and might be useful for early diagnosis of HCC.     

MAGE-4基因在肝细胞肝癌中的表达及临床意义

目的通过研究MAGE-4基因在肝细胞肝癌组织中的表达,并与患者临床资料进行分析,探讨 MAGE-4基因与肝细胞肝癌(HCC)患者临床指标及转移与复发的关系,为MAGE-4基因编码蛋白用于HCC患者免疫治疗提供依据. 方法用RT-PCR的方法对31例HCC患者癌组织及相应癌旁组织MAGE-4基因表达进行测定,对全部RT-PCR扩增产物中目的基因片段进行DNA测序以证实其为 MAGE-4基因,患者均测定并统计AFP、AFU、抗HCV、HBsAg、AFP mRNA、肿瘤直径等临床指标. 结果 31例HCC患者肝癌组织中MAGE-4基因表达的阳性率38.7% (12/31)明显高于癌旁组织中MAGE-4基因表达的阳性率0% (0/31),P＜0.01.HCC患者肝癌组织中MAGE-4基因表达的阳性率与患者AFP、AFU、抗HCV、HBV标志物、AFP mRNA、肿瘤直径等临床指标均无关,P＞0.05. 结论 MAGE-4基因在HCC患者肝癌组织中特异高表达,可能作为HCC患者免疫治疗攻击的靶点,HCC患者肝癌组织中 MAGE-4基因表达的阳性率与HCC患者肿瘤标志物、转移、复发均无关.     

Expression and significance of tumor-related genes in HCC

AIM: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of DEK, cyclin D1, insulin-like growth factor Ⅱ (IGF-Ⅱ), glypican 3 (GPC3), ribosomal phosphoprotein 0 (rpPO) mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its paraneoplastic tissues. METHODS: The expression of mRNAs of DEK, cyclin D1, IGF-Ⅱ, GPC3 and rpP0 mRNA was detected in HCC and its paraneoplastic tissues by multiplex RT-PCR. RESULTS: By the simplex RT-PCR, the overexpression of mRNAs of DEK, cyclin D1, IGF-Ⅱ, GPC3, rpP0 mRNA in HCC and its paraneoplastic tissues was 78.1%, 87.5%, 87.5%, 75.0%, 81.3% and 15.6%, 40.6%, 37.5%, 21.9%, 31.3% respectively (P<0.05). By the multiplex RT-PCR, at least one of the mRNAs was detected in all HCC samples and in 75.0% of paraneoplastic samples (P>0.05). However, all these five mRNAs were found in 68.8% of HCC samples, but only in 9.4% of paraneoplastic tissues (P<0.05). The positive expression of mRNAs of DEK, cyclin D1, IGF-Ⅱ, GPC3, rpP0 in well- and poorly-differentiated HCC was 89.0%, 66.7%, 66.7%, 66.7%, 77.8% and 73.9%, 95.7%, 95.7%, 95.7%, 82.6%, respectively (P>0.05). The expression of these genes in HCCs with α-feto protein (AFP) negative and positive was 90.0%, 80.0%, 90.0%, 90.0%, 90.0% and 72.7%, 86.3%, 77.3%, 90.9%, 68.2% respectively (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of DEK, cyclin D1, IGF-Ⅱ, GPC3, rpP0 mRNA in HCC is much higher in HCC than in its paraneoplastic tissues. Multiplex RT-PCR assay is an effective, sensitive, accurate, and cost-effective diagnostic method of HCC.     

Relationship between expression of alpha-fetoprotein messenger RNA and some clinical parameters of human hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM:To certify the relationship between AFP mRNA and some pathological parameters of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS:We detected the expression of AFP in mRNA level in tissue samples from 52 patients suffered from HCC by RT-PCR method.RESULTS:The positive rate of AFP mRNA was 76.9% in the HCC tumor tissues,and 69.4% in the paratumor tissues from the HCC patients with severe cirrhosis.However, in HCC patients without cirrhosis, the positive rate reached 50% in tumor tissues, but no AFP mRNA expression was found in the related paratumor tissues.CONCLUSION:The AFP protein was specially expressed by HCC cells and mutated hepatocytes.The AFP mRNA was positively related with cirrhosis, but no significant relationship was found between AFP mRNA and tumor size, capsule status and tumor metastasis.     

Decreased expression of type Ⅱ tumor suppressor gene RARRES3 in tissues of hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma

AIM: To analyze the expression of retinoic acid receptor responder 3 (RARRES3) protein in paraffin-embedded tissues of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CC), and the correlation of RARRES3 production with tumor differentiation. METHODS: Expression of RARRES3 in tissues from 21 CC (10 well-, 7 moderately- and 4 poorly-differentiated) and 32 HCC was determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Among 21 CC tissues, RARRES3 was detected in 8 (80%) of 10 well-differentiated tumors. Only 2 (18.2%) out of 11 tumors with moderate or poor differentiationshowed positive RARRES3 expression. RARRES3 expression in well-differentiated CC was significantly higher than that in tumors with moderate or poor differentiation (Fisher exact test, P&lt;0.01). Expression of RARRES3 was not different between early (Ⅰ and Ⅱ) and late (Ⅲ and Ⅳ) stages of CC. Among 30 HCC tissues, 17 (56.7%) weakly expressed RARRES3 in HCC cells, and 25 (83.3%) normal tissues adjacent to HCC expressed the protein. RARRES3 expression was significantly decreased in HCC tissues compared to that in adjacent normal tissues (logistic regression analysis, OR = 0.27, 95% Cl (0.11-0.62), P&lt;0.01). CONCLUSION: Expression of RARRES3 is positively correlated to well-differentiated CC, which supports the role of RARRES3 in malignant epithelial differentiation of the tumor. The decrease in RARRES3 expression in tissues of HCC and CC with moderate and poor differentiation suggests that altered RARRES3 expression may play a role in the carcinogenesis of the liver and biliary tract.     

外周血白蛋白mRNA分析在肝癌诊断和转移监测中的价值

目的     

Overexpression of DNA methyltransferase 1 and its biological significance in primary hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM： To explore the relationship between DNA methyltransferase 1 （DNMT1） and hepatitis B virus （HBV）-related hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） and its biological significance in primary HCC. METHODS： We carried out an immunohistochemical examination of DNMT1 in both HCC and paired nonneoplastic liver tissues from Chinese subjects. DNMT1 mRNA was further examined in HCC cell lines by real-time PCR. We inhibited DNMT1 using siRNA and detected the effect of depletion of DNMT1 on cell proliferation ability and cell apoptosis in the HCC celt line SMMC-7721. RESULTS： DNMT1 protein expression was increased in HCCs compared to histologically normal nonneoplastic liver tissues and the incidence of DNMT1 immunoreactivity in HCCs correlated significantly with poor tumor differentiation （P = 0.014）. There were more cases with DNMT1 overexpression in HCC with HBV （42.85%） than in HCC without HBV （28.57%）. However, no significant difference in DNMT1 expression was found in HBV-positive and HBV-negative cases in the Chinese HCC group. There was a trend that DNMT1 RNA expression increased more in HCC cell lines than in pericarcinoma cell lines and normal liver cell lines. In addition, we inhibited DNMT1 using siRNA in the SMMC-7721 HCC cell line and found depletion of DNMT1 suppressed cells growth independent of expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen （PCNA）, even in HCC cell lines where DNMT1 was stably decreased. CONCLUSION： The findings implied that DNMT1 plays a key role in HBV-retated hepatocellular tumorigenesis. Depletion of DNMT1 mediates growth suppression in SMMC-7721 cells.     

Recurrence or metastasis of HCC:predictors, early detection and experimental antiangiogenic therapy

AIM To investigate the predictors for recurrence or metastasis of HCC, and to evaluate the effect of antiangiogenic therapy on the growth of transplantable human HCC in nude mice. METHODS RT-PCR was used to measure the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in 56 pairs of nontumorous liver and tumor samples. Sixty blood samples from human HCC were examined by nested RT-PCR to find out AFP mRNA. Recombinant human endostatin and polyclonal antibody against VEGF were administered to treat human HCC transplanted in nude mice. RESULTS Thirty of 56 HCC samples showed stronger expression of MMP-9 in tumorous tissues than in nontumorous tissues. Fifteen of the 26 patients with relative expression level of MMP-9 more than 0.34 developed tumor recurrence or metastasis, whereas only 7 of 30 patients with relative expression level less than 0.34 developed tumor recurrence (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the relative expression level of VEGF between patients with postoperative recurrence or metastasis and those without recurrence. AFP mRNA was detectable in 53.3% of patients with HCC. The sensitivity and specificity of AFP mRNA as a marker to detect hematogenous dissemination of HCC cells was 81.8% and 84.4%, respectively. Recombinant human endostatin and polyclonal antibody against VEGF inhibited the growth of transplantable HCC in nude mice by 52.2% and 45.7%, respectively.CONCLUSION MMP-9 expression in HCC correlates with the postoperative recurrence or metastasis of HCC. Patients with high level of MMP-9 expression in HCC are susceptible to metastasis. AFP mRNA could serve as an indicator of hematogenous spreading of HCC cells in circulation and a predictor of recurrence or metastasis of HCC. Antiangiogenesis may be an adjuvant therapy for HCC.     

肝癌组织和血清中半乳糖血凝素-3的表达及其意义

目的 研究人肝癌组织及血清中半乳糖血凝素-3(galectin-3)的表达及其临床意义.方法 免疫组织化学法检测46例肝癌及其癌旁组织中galectin-3,分析galectin-3表达水平与各临床参数之间的关系; 酶联免疫吸附法检测不同肝病患者及正常人血清中galectin-3浓度,同步比较galectin-3浓度与甲胎蛋白(AFP)、γ-谷氨酰转移酶同工酶Ⅱ(GGT-Ⅱ)诊断肝癌的灵敏性及特异性,探讨3项指标对肝癌的互补诊断价值.用Stata8.0及SPSS15.0统计软件对结果进行统计分析.采用配对设计四格表假设检验、秩和检验、χ2检验、Fisher's确切概率法、Spearman等级相关方法.结果 (1)galectin-3在肝癌组织中的表达阳性率为78.2%,癌旁组织为15.2%,χ2=92.000,P<0.01,差异有统计意义.其表达水平与分化程度相关,分化程度越低表达水平越高;(2)根据ROC曲线,当确定诊断界值为0.62μg/L时,galectin-3阳性率在肝癌患者中为64.5%,肝硬化患者中为3.1%、慢性肝炎患者及正常人中均为0,P<0.05(Fisher's确切概率法);(3)肝癌患者血清中galectin-3与AFP、GGT-Ⅱ均无相关性,联合检测3项指标对肝癌诊断有互补性,可使诊断敏感性提高至94.7%.结论 galectin-3在肝癌组织中高表达,与肝癌的分化程度相关,可能与肝癌的发生和发展有关;肝癌患者联合检测血清galectin-3、AFP和GGT-Ⅱ可提高对肝癌诊断的敏感性,galectin-3有望成为新的肝癌标记物.

Abstract：

Objective To study the expression of Galectin-3 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and the clinical value of serum Galectin-3 in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods Immunohistochemistry method was used to detect the expression of Galectin-3 in the 46 pairs of HCC tissues and their paracancerous tissues. The relationship between expression levels of Galectin-3 and clinical parameters was analyzed. Serum Galectin-3 in different liver diseases were measured with ELISA. The sensitivity and specificity of galectin-3, alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase Ⅱ (GGT-Ⅱ)for diagnosis of HCC were compared and the complementary diagnostic values of Galectin-3 and AFP and GGT-Ⅱ for HCC were studied. Results (1) The positive rate of Galectin-3 in the tissue of HCC was 78.2%, dramatically higher than that in paracancerous tissues (15.2%) (P < 0.01). The expression levels were correlated with differentiation and with the high expression in poor differentiation tissues; (2) Based on ROC curve, the cut-off of serum Galectin-3 for HCC diagnosis was set as 0.62 μg/L, the serum galectin-3 positive rate was 64.5% in HCC cases, which was apparently higher than that in liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis and healthy persons (P < 0.05); (3) Serum Galectin-3 was not correlated with AFP and GGT-Ⅱ. Combined determination of the three markers had the complementary diagnostic value for HCC and might increase the diagnostic sensitivity to 94.7%. Conclusion Galectin-3 is overexpressed in HCC tissues and is correlated with the tumor differentiation, suggesting that Galectin-3 may be associated with the carcinogenesis and development of HCC. Serum galectin-3 increases in the HCC cases and combined determination of serum Galectin-3, AFP and GGT-Ⅱ can increase the diagnostic efficiency for HCC. Galectin-3 could be a novel serum tumor marker for HCC.