Bispecific murine monoclonal antibody 2B1, possessing dual specificity for the human c-erbB-2 protooncogene product and human Fc gamma receptor III (CD16) was evaluated for the ability to promote specific lysis of c-erbB-2-positive tumor cells in vitro. In short-term 51Cr release assays with human mononuclear cells as effectors and SK-Br-3 human breast cancer cells as targets, neither parental antibody of 2B1 mediated significant specific lysis, but bispecific antibody was as active as a chemical heteroconjugate, with 5 ng/ml of 2B1 causing half-maximal lysis at an effector/target ratio of 20:1 and 2 ng/ml 2B1 causing half-maximal lysis at an E/T ratio of 40:1. The cytotoxic targeting activity of 2B1 F(ab')2 fragment was the same as that of whole bispecific antibody, and the activity of whole 2B1 was not reduced when assays were performed in 100% autologous human serum, indicating that 2B1 binds effector cells through the CD16-binding site derived from parental antibody 3G8 rather than through its Fc portion. Variable inhibition of 2B1-mediated lysis was observed when autologous polymorphonuclear leukocytes from different donors were added to mononuclear effector cells at a 2:1 ratio; this inhibition was overcome at higher antibody concentration. 2B1 bispecific monoclonal antibody was also able to mediate targeted cytolysis using whole human blood as a source of effector cells or using effector or target cells derived from ovarian cancer patients.