SLAM family member 7 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SLAMF7 gene.
The surface antigen CD319 (SLAMF7) is a robust marker of normal plasma cells and malignant plasma cells in multiple myeloma. In contrast to CD138 (the traditional plasma cell marker), CD319/SLAMF7 is much more stable and allows robust isolation of malignant plasma cells from delayed or even cryopreserved samples.
Elotuzumab is an antibody that targets this protein.
Lu et al. showed that a bispecific nanobioconjugate that enables the decoration of SLAMF7 on the surface of solid tumors induces robust phagocytosis and activates the phagocyte cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase-stimulator of interferon genes cGAS-STING pathway, sensitizing the tumors to immune checkpoint blockade. The findings support an immunological conversion strategy that uses nano adjuvants to improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy for solid tumors 1)