The purpose of this study was to identify human antibodies generated against autologous breast tumor cells by the host's immune response. Accordingly, lymphocytes from lymph nodes of seven different patients with metastatic breast carcinomas were immortalized by fusing them with a nonsecreting variant of murine myeloma cells. The screening for binding of antibodies to tumor cells was performed by indirect immunoperoxidase staining of paraffin-embedded tissue sections of the autologous tumor. The selected hybrid cells, after being cloned three times, were stable for the secretion of immunoglobulins for over 2 years. A total of 81 human immunoglobulin-producing clones was obtained from an initial 595 wells with hybrid growth. Nine of these clones produced immunoglobulin M, none of which showed detectable binding to tissue antigens in breast. Seventy-two clones produced immunoglobulin G monoclonal antibodies, and 15 of these showed preferential binding to breast carcinoma cells. Three of these immunoglobulin G monoclonal antibodies were subjected to detailed immunohistological evaluations. Using these antibodies at concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 ng/tissue section, the morphologically normal mammary epithelial cells could be discriminated from their malignant counterparts. The antibodies showed diffuse staining of cytoplasmic components in the malignant counterparts. Under these conditions, lymphocytes, erythrocytes, and stromal cells in breast tissues were unstained. The antibodies showed variable reactivity with malignant epithelial cells of colon and stomach, and with normal epithelial cells lining the renal tubules and sebaceous glands in skin. Antigenic heterogeneity of malignant mammary epithelial cells was revealed. The antibodies may have value in the characterization of tumor-associated antigens responsible for inducing autologous immune responses.