Finally, the relative frequencies of NK cells expressing members of the SLAM including 2B4 (SLAMF4), NTBA (SLAMF6), or SLAMF7, were also significantly decreased (2B4+P<0.0001; NTBA+P<0.0001; SLAMF7+P=0.0002) in ALL patients relative to age-matched controls. The gene discussed is SLAMF6; the disease is acute lymphoblastic leukemia.