CS1, a potential new therapeutic antibody target for the treatment of multiple myeloma

We generated a humanized antibody, HuLuc63, which specifically targets CS1 (CCND3 subset 1, CRACC, and SLAMF7), a cell surface glycoprotein not previously associated with multiple myeloma. To explore the therapeutic potential of HuLuc63 in multiple myeloma, we examined in detail the expression profile of CS1, the binding properties of HuLuc63 to normal and malignant cells, and the antimyeloma activity of HuLuc63 in preclinical models.

CS1 was analyzed by gene expression profiling and immunohistochemistry of multiple myeloma samples and numerous normal tissues. HuLuc63-mediated antimyeloma activity was tested in vitro in antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) assays and in vivo using the human OPM2 xenograft model in mice.

CS1 mRNA was expressed in >90% of 532 multiple myeloma cases, regardless of cytogenetic abnormalities. Anti-CS1 antibody staining of tissues showed strong staining of myeloma cells in all plasmacytomas and bone marrow biopsies. Flow cytometric analysis of patient samples using HuLuc63 showed specific staining of CD138+ myeloma cells, natural killer (NK), NK-like T cells, and CD8+ T cells, with no binding detected on hematopoietic CD34+ stem cells. HuLuc63 exhibited significant in vitro ADCC using primary myeloma cells as targets and both allogeneic and autologous NK cells as effectors. HuLuc63 exerted significant in vivo antitumor activity, which depended on efficient Fc-CD16 interaction as well as the presence of NK cells in the mice.

These results suggest that HuLuc63 eliminates myeloma cells, at least in part, via NK-mediated ADCC and shows the therapeutic potential of targeting CS1 with HuLuc63 for the treatment of multiple myeloma.