Revealed: Royal College of Physicians to launch independent external review into unnecessary Temozolomide chemotherapy

We can reveal that in early July 2025 patients affected by the extended use of adjuvant Temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy received a letter from University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust pertaining to the progress made in its review of this practice so far.

Penned by Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Young, the Trust’s letter refers to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance, which recommends that TMZ should be used for six or 12 cycles for the treatment of high-grade brain tumours, including glioblastomas. It goes onto state that NICE also recognises that clinicians can exercise their professional judgement appropriate to individual circumstances.

“Our clinicians have discussed this with all patients who were receiving this treatment under the care of Professor Ian Brown”, it claims, “and have explained our rationale for stopping extended adjuvant treatment where there has been no disease progression”.

An “anxious time” for patients

The letter acknowledges that this “must be an anxious time” for patients “who have had a long period of disease control with TMZ” and “may feel uncertain about what the change in practice may mean”. 

The letter further states that “providing the highest standards of care is our priority” and that “patients on follow-up… will continue to receive appointments with our specialist Neuro-oncology team”.

From our own investigation, which has involved speaking with many patients from this cohort, we know that TMZ treatment was often used and continued by Professor Brown despite radiology scans showing that tumours were stable with no signs of progression or recurrence. 

Experiencing unnecessary chemotherapy treatment can result in debilitating side effects and significant disruptions to daily life, including work, family responsibilities and financial stability.

Royal College of Physicians to launch independent external review

The letter confirms that the Trust “carried out an initial internal review” and has “now commissioned the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) to conduct an independent external review” to cover “all those patients… identified as having received more than 12 cycles of adjunctive TMZ between 2017 and 2023”. 

We know that some patients — including Becky, who last week appeared alongside our Head of Medical Negligence Fiona Tinsley on ITV’s Good Morning Britain — received far more than six cycles of treatment, with Becky herself receiving over 100 cycles. We’ve also spoken to one patient whose treatment goes back to 2006, so it seems that there’s a period of at least 19 years (and possibly longer) during which Professor Brown was using this prolonged treatment.

According to the letter, the findings of the independent review are expected to “be available before the end of 2025” and the Trust will take “whatever action is necessary in line with the RCP’s recommendations”.

Have you been affected?

As the only solicitors to have been working on these cases — and very closely with the Trust and its solicitors — since April 2024, we have a deep appreciation for just how difficult it is for patients to process the possibility that their treatment may have been unnecessary. 

We want to ensure that every affected patient and their families seek accountability and have access to justice, financial compensation and emotional support. 

We’re meeting every single patient face to face — no matter where they’re located — to hear their stories and provide the best possible advice.

If you or anyone you know might have been impacted by this treatment, call our team today on 0333 004 4488. 

Pursuing a medical negligence claim may not only provide much-needed financial compensation but also hold medical professionals accountable for their actions.