The purpose of this study was to investigate a new form of specific targeting immunotherapy for human pancreatic carcinoma. In 4hr 51Cr release assays, the cytolysis of Capan-2 human pancreatic carcinoma cells by LAK cells was enhanced with pancreatic cancer-specific monoclonal antibody (YPC3 McAb). This antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of the LAK cells was more evident while increasing the concentration of YPC3 McAb. The cytotoxic effects of the LAK cells on target cells increased about 60% when 50 micrograms/ml of YPC3 McAb was used. No cytotoxic effect of the LAK cells was found in the presence of irrelevant monoclonal antibody. Experimentally, the growth rate of Capan-2 human pancreatic carcinoma cell line in nude mice was 25%, 100%, and 100% after the injection of LAK cells, splenocytes and YPC3 McAb, respectively. However, simultaneous injection of YPC3 McAb and LAK cells completely inhibited the growth of the cell line. These results suggest that LAK cells in combination with YPC3 McAb might be useful for the treatment of human pancreatic carcinoma.