It shows here that the presence of the galactoside-binding galectin-3, whose concentration is markedly increased in the blood circulation of cancer patients, increases cancer cell homotypic aggregation under anchorage-independent conditions by interaction with the oncofetal Thomsen-Friedenreich carbohydrate (Galβ1,3GalNAcα-, TF) antigen on the cancer-associated transmembrane mucin protein MUC1. The gene discussed is LGALS3; the disease is cancer.