In 1977, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) established the first electronic registry of cancer clinical trials (CLINPROT). This registry is the first cancer information product included in what would later become known as the Physician Data Query (PDQ) database.

The Institute’s response was to create what is now known as the Physician Data Query (PDQ®) cancer information database. From its beginnings in 1977 as a database of NCI-sponsored cancer clinical trials, PDQ has grown to include extensive information about cancer treatment, screening, prevention, supportive and palliative care, genetics, drugs, and more.