Serial blood and marrow specimens from eight adult recipients of sex-mismatched transplants (BMT) for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML, n = 3), Ewing sarcoma (n = 1), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in second remission (n = 1), acute lymphatic leukemia (ALL, n = 1) and multiple myeloma (n = 2) were analyzed by the simultaneous immunophenotypic CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD34, CD10 and genotypic analysis (for X and Y chromosomes). This combined technique of moAb/APAAP staining for cell surface and cytoplasmic antigens and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for the detection of sex chromosomes allowed the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of mixed chimerism and/or relapse. Using the same slides for moAb/APAAP and FISH allowed the simultaneous identification of the cell lineage, the lymphocyte subpopulation and the genotype (XX or YX) in every blood or BM specimen analyzed. A mixed chimerism in the T cell (CD4, CD8+: median 26% host cells, range 5-44%) and in the myelomonocytic cell population (CD14+ median 16% host cells, range 5-50%) was observed at day +7 after BMT. By days +14 to +18 this mixed chimerism was reduced to 18% host T cells (range 5-50%) and 7% host myelomonocytic cells (range 0-20%). Beyond days +21 to +28 a stable donor chimerism for T cells, myelomonocytic cells and granulocytes was observed in seven of eight patients. Still 0.5-1% host cells of different lineages were detectable in five from the eight patients at later time points (> day + 100). In three patients with CML these cells were CD13 or CD13, CD34 positive and in one was CD4, CD8 positive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)