SLAM family member 7 (SLAMF7) (SLAMF7)

SLAM family member 7 (SLAMF7), also known as CS1 or CD319, is a cell surface receptor belonging to the Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule (SLAM) family [1, 13]. It is highly and nearly universally expressed on malignant plasma cells in multiple myeloma, while its expression on normal tissues is restricted to Natural Killer (NK) cells, specific subsets of T cells, B cells, and monocytes [1, 6]. In NK cells, SLAMF7 acts as an activating receptor through its interaction with the adaptor protein EAT-2, whereas in the absence of EAT-2 (as seen in myeloma cells), it may promote cell adhesion to the bone marrow stroma or mediate inhibitory signals [5, 16]. The therapeutic significance of SLAMF7 lies in its role as a target for monoclonal antibodies like elotuzumab, which treats multiple myeloma by inducing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and enhancing NK cell-mediated killing through direct activation [3, 16]. Additionally, SLAMF7 is being explored as a target for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies and bispecific antibodies [2]. Because of its differential expression and functional roles in immune and malignant cells, it serves as a precise focal point for immunotherapy in hematologic malignancies, although challenges such as CAR-T fratricide and potential immunosuppression remain [2, 8].

Other names

CS1CD319CRACCCell surface glycoprotein CD2 subset 1CD2-like receptor-activating cytotoxic cells19AFOAP-12Novel Ly9

Drugs targeting SLAMF7, such as elotuzumab, primarily act through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) to eliminate myeloma cells [1, 16]. Additionally, elotuzumab directly activates NK cells by promoting homotypic SLAMF7-SLAMF7 interactions and enhancing co-stimulatory signaling via the EAT-2 adaptor protein [5, 16]. It also inhibits the adhesion of myeloma cells to bone marrow stromal cells, thereby disrupting survival signals [1, 10].