SLAM family member 7 (SLAMF7) receptor (SLAMF7)

SLAM family member 7 (SLAMF7), also known as CS1 or CD319, is a cell surface glycoprotein belonging to the Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule (SLAM) family (UniProt Q9NQ25). It is highly and nearly universally expressed on the surface of malignant plasma cells in multiple myeloma, while its expression on normal tissues is restricted to natural killer (NK) cells, specific subsets of T cells, and B cells (PMID: 11698285). In the context of multiple myeloma, SLAMF7 promotes the adhesion of myeloma cells to bone marrow stromal cells, facilitating tumor growth and survival (PMID: 18451162). Therapeutically, SLAMF7 is the target of the monoclonal antibody elotuzumab, which exerts its effect through a dual mechanism: it directly activates NK cells and tags myeloma cells for destruction via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) (FDA Label: Empliciti). Because of its high expression on cancerous plasma cells and limited distribution elsewhere, SLAMF7 serves as a critical target for immunotherapy in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (PMID: 26030508).

Other names

CS1CD319CRACC19ACD2 subset 1CD2-like receptor-activating cytotoxic cells

Elotuzumab is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that targets SLAMF7. It works through a dual mechanism: directly activating Natural Killer (NK) cells via the SLAMF7 pathway and tagging SLAMF7-expressing myeloma cells for recognition and destruction by NK cells through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) (PMID: 26030508, FDA Label: Empliciti).