The "Standards, Options and Recommandations" (SOR), started in 1993, are a collaborative project between the Federation of the French Cancer Centres (FNCLCC), the 20 French Cancer Centres and specialists from French Public Universities, General Hospitals and Private Clinics. The main objective is the development of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of health care and outcomes for cancer patients. The methodology is based on literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary experts group, with feedback from specialists in cancer care delivery. The objectives are to develop a clinical practice guideline with definitions of Standards. Options and Recommendations for the clinical care of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Data have been identified by literature search using Medline (1966-June 1997) and personal references lists. The main criteria considered were incidence, risk factors, pronostic factors and efficacy of cancer treatment. Once the guideline was defined, the document was submitted to 40 independent reviewers for peer review, and to the medical committees of the 20 French Cancer Centres for review and agreement. The results are: 1) systematic assessment of (professional) exposure to asbestos is based on a standardized interrogatory, completed by specific consultation for professional disease; 2) diagnostic and clinical staging is based on multiple biopsies under thoracoscopy and thoracic scanner; 3) there is no indication for extemporaneous examination, immunocytochemistry should use cytokeratine, EMA, vimentine, ACE, Leu-M1; 4) clinical care: the recommended staging classification is the IMIG (International Mesothelioma Interest Group) classification; 5) validated, independent pronostic factors are stage of disease patient's functional status and histologic type (i.e. epithelial lesions are of better prognosis); 6) treatment is based on symptomatic and palliative treatment options. Anticancer treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy) did not show significant improvement of survival. The inclusion of patients in clinical trials is recommended.