The present invention provides compositions that enhance or inhibit the interactions of galectin-8 and galectin-8-like proteins with other extracellular matrix proteins or cell surface receptors, and methods for the use thereof as physiological modulators of cell adhesion and in treatment of tumors, both in vivo or ex vivo. It further provides compositions and methods for modulating the expression of galectin-8, and galectin-8-like proteins, particularly to novel antisense oligonucleotides.