Fifty colorectal tumors were screened by indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry for antigen expression using a panel of monoclonal antibodies that recognize determinants preferentially expressed on tumor cells (carcinoembryonic antigen, Y haptenic blood group, 791T/36 defined antigen 791T-P72). Fifty % of the tumors expressed all three antigens, 41%, two, and 9%, one. Over a third reacted strongly with at least one monoclonal antibody, although the majority of tumors stained with a moderate intensity. Extranuclear membranes from tumors showed similar antigen expression to disaggregated tumor cells and were particularly useful for providing the relative tumor:normal tissue binding ratios. The carcinoembryonic antigen specific monoclonal antibody showed the strongest tumor selectivity with a tumor:normal tissue ratio of 24 +/- 7:1. Lack of correlation between expression of the three antigens suggested that the monoclonal antibodies recognizing them may have potential as a "cocktail." One-third of the tumors contained cells with an aneuploid DNA content and expressed elevated levels of carcinoembryonic antigen and Y haptenic blood group antigen when compared to tumors with diploid DNA content. Aneuploid cells within a tumor were also preferentially stained with all of the monoclonal antibodies.