Tumor cell lysis can be enhanced significantly in vitro when heteroconjugate (HC) antibodies (anti-CD3 x anti-tumor mAb) are used to specifically direct lymphocyte effector cells to the tumor cell target. In order to effectively utilize HC antibodies in an immunotherapy protocol, methods must be identified for the optimum expansion, activation, and retargeting of lymphocyte-effector populations from cancer patients. In this study, we have compared the proliferative responses of different normal and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patient lymphocyte preparations (PBL, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes) stimulated in vitro for periods up to 12 days with a variety of growth factor combinations (anti-CD3, rIL-2, rIL-4). These activated lymphocyte preparations were then tested in vitro for their ability to kill RCC tumor cells and tumor cell lines in the presence of HC preparations (anti-CD3 mAb covalently linked to mAb reactive to different RCC tumor-associated Ag). RCC patient PBL cultured with anti-CD3 plus rIL-2 for 12 days resulted in a 3- to 160-fold expansion of effector cells. These cells, as well as tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, when retargeted with appropriate HC antibodies were capable of mediating high levels of killing of autologous tumor cells. No constitutive autologous anti-tumor cell response was detected in the absence of added HC antibodies. Of the five anti-RCC mAb tested (A6H, K29, K20, UR07, and URO 3), HC containing URO 3 x anti-CD3 and K20 x anti-CD3 elicited the highest level of tumor cell lysis by the activated lymphocyte effector cells. Together these results demonstrate that HC antibodies may be a useful imunotherapeutic reagent for directing the killing of RCC tumor cells by autologous lymphocytes.