In 1995, Information in National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Physician Data Query (PDQ) database became available on the World Wide Web via the NCI Web site CancerNet.

The PDQ health professional cancer information summaries are part of the comprehensive, evidence-based, up-to-date cancer content made available as a public service of the NCI.

They are intended to: improve the overall quality of cancer care by informing and educating health professionals about the current published evidence related to individual cancer-related topics, and support informed decision making between clinicians and patients.