The addition of a Gal-3 inhibitor CBP.001 (Carbohydrate Binding Protein version 001) to the co-culture of an AML cell line with normal BM-MSCs significantly decreased the number of viable AML cell lines by inducing apoptosis, and enhanced cytarabine-induced apoptosis of the AML cell line. Here, LGALS3 is linked to acute myeloid leukemia.