The deletion of galectin-3-encoding gene sensitizes human keratinocytes, colorectal cancer cells, leukemia cells, human renal cell carcinoma and cholangyocarcinoma cells to apoptosis (Shi et al., 2007; Wongkham et al., 2009; Cheng et al., 2011; Xu et al., 2013), whereas the overexpression of Lgals3 protects the cells from apotosis (Takenaka et al., 2004). The gene discussed is LGALS3; the disease is colorectal cancer.