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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common neoplasm in the world, and the third most common cause of cancerrelated death. Early diagnosis remains the key to effective therapy of HCC. Materials & Methods: In the present study Alpha-fetoprotien (AFP) by ELISA technique and MAGE-3 m-RNA in blood by RT-PCR were assayed in 140 individuals classified into 4 groups: control group (I) which comprised of 20 healthy individuals, group II which comprised of 20 hepatic patients without any complications; group III that comprised of 25 cirrhotic patients and group IV that comprised of 75 HCC patients. Results: The results revealed that the positive rate of MAGE-3 transcripts among HCC patients was 36% (27 out of 75). The results of AFP showed a significant positive increase of serum AFP in group IV when compared with group I, II and III, also significant positive increase in group III when compared with group I and II. Conclusions: MAGE-3 transcript in the blood can be used in diagnosis of HCC, to predict prognosis and monitoring of the response to the therapy, and AFP level directly correlated with progression of HCC.