Galectin-8 is a protein of the galectin family that in humans is encoded by the LGALS8 gene. This gene encodes a member of the galectin family. Galectins are beta-galactoside-binding animal lectins with conserved carbohydrate recognition domains. The galectins have been implicated in many essential functions including development, differentiation, cell-cell adhesion, cell-matrix interaction, growth regulation, apoptosis, and RNA splicing. This gene is widely expressed in tumoral tissues and seems to be involved in integrin-like cell interactions. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been identified. Galectin-8, interacts with the mTOR regulatory system composed of SLC38A9, Ragulator, RagAB, RagCD. Galectin-8 controls mTOR causing its inactivation and dissociation from damaged lysosomes, hence transducing the breach of the lysosomal membrane to mTOR. The physiological consequences of mTOR inhibition following lysosomal membrane damage[8] encompass autophagy and metabolic switching.