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Head and neck cancer · Interventional immuno-oncology

When head and neck cancer comes back, we expose what the tumor is hiding.

For head and neck cancer that has come back or spread — we expose what the tumor is hiding so your immune system can attack it.

Personalized

Minimally invasive

Immune-activating

Outpatient

In plain terms

What we do, in three paragraphs.

Head and neck cancers that come back or spread after the standard immunotherapy-plus-chemo regimen have few remaining options. Our approach treats the tumor directly: ablation plus intratumoral immunotherapy — using PEF because these tumors sit near the carotid arteries, airway, and nerves, where heat-based ablation is dangerous.
Many of these cancers — especially HPV-positive throat cancers — carry viral proteins (E6 and E7) the immune system should recognize, but the tumor masks them. Breaking the tumor open exposes those “fingerprints” and turns a “cold” tumor “hot” — AblationVax, aiming for the abscopal effect.
This may matter especially here because of field cancerization — the surrounding tissue often harbors multiple early lesions, and a body-wide immune response can target those shared signals too. We coordinate with your head-and-neck and oncology teams; most patients finish in about a week. Results vary.

One needle, one session: ablation plus immunotherapy delivered where the cancer lives.

AblationVax: the treated tumor teaches your immune system to attack cancer body-wide.

Real outcomes

HPV+ and HPV− disease after KEYNOTE-048.

After progression on pembrolizumab + chemotherapy and cetuximab regimens, options narrow rapidly. HPV+ cancers carry viral antigens that should be immunogenic — our approach exposes those antigens to the immune system at the source.

Individual results vary. These outcomes represent specific patient cases and are not guaranteed for all patients.

Where our approach fits

Treatment options by stage.

Find your diagnosis below to see what standard care offers, where we add to it, and what role our approach plays.

Early (stage I–II)

Standard care
Surgery or radiation.
What we add
Our approach is rarely first-line.
Standard care first

Locally advanced (III–IVA)

Standard care
Concurrent chemoradiation ± cetuximab.
What we add
Intratumoral immune priming in selected cases.
Adjunct to standard care

Our primary focus

Recurrent / metastatic

Standard care
Pembrolizumab + chemo (KEYNOTE-048) → cetuximab regimens → single agents.
What we add
Ablation + intratumoral re-engagement after progression.

T-cell exhaustion after repeated regimens — we re-engage immunity at the tumor site.

Systemic immune activation

Oligoprogressive

Standard care
A few growing spots on systemic therapy.
What we add
Local control + intratumoral immune amplification.
Local + systemic strategy

Beyond ablation alone

Destroy the tumor, then teach your immune system to finish the job.

Standard approaches
Our approach — AblationVax
Pembrolizumab + chemo → cetuximab → single agents.
Ablation + intratumoral immunotherapy for re-engagement after progression.

IV pembrolizumab: standard systemic exposure.
Delivered directly into the tumor rather than through the bloodstream. The aim is to concentrate treatment at the tumor site and limit whole-body exposure.

Limited options after KEYNOTE-048 failure.
Multi-agent intratumoral cocktails as next-line consideration.

Why this approach for head & neck cancer?

Treats tumors near critical structures

Carotid arteries, jugular veins, cranial nerves, airway. Non-thermal PEF treats where thermal ablation risks vascular or nerve injury.

Converts “cold” tumors into “hot” targets

HPV+ disease is “warm” but suppressed; HPV− disease is colder. Our approach addresses both microenvironments.

Aims for systemic response

The investigational goal is to determine whether immune amplification at one lesion can act against antigen-sharing lesions elsewhere in the field, and at distant metastatic sites.

Head & Neck-specific breakthrough

HPV antigen exposure + the field-cancerization opportunity.

“HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer is the most immunogenic subtype, but the tumor microenvironment masks that immunogenicity. We expose those viral antigens through ablation and amplify the response through intratumoral delivery.”

— Dr. Jason R. Williams

HPV E6 / E7 antigen density

These viral oncoproteins are persistent, non-self tumor antigens. Ablation functions as in-situ antigen release; intratumoral immunotherapy amplifies presentation and priming.

Field cancerization

Multiple lesions in the same tissue field may share antigens — immune amplification at one lesion could act as a vaccine against the others.

Multi-agent cocktails

CpG, OX40 / CD40 agonists, and checkpoint inhibitors delivered together intratumorally for patients progressing on KEYNOTE-048 regimens.

“Head and neck cancer was one of the first solid tumors where IV checkpoint blockade showed real responses. But durability is limited — intratumoral delivery is how we extend that benefit.” — Dr. Williams

Beyond the procedure: whole-patient support.

We optimize your entire system for the best possible response — and coordinate with the team you already have.

Gut microbiome optimization

Diet, probiotics, and related therapies to support a stronger immunotherapy response.

Off-label protocols

Strategic use of repurposed medications to enhance immune response.

Personalized cocktails

Multi-agent immunotherapy tailored to your specific cancer.

Oncologist coordination

We work alongside your current chemo and radiation team.

What to expect

Your path to treatment.

1

Case review

We review your CT / MRI head and neck, PET, and biomarker reports (HPV/p16, PD-L1 CPS).

2

Protocol design

A personalized cocktail tuned to HPV status, immune profile, and prior lines.

3

Procedure week

Image-guided PEF or cryoablation + intratumoral immunotherapy. Outpatient.

4

Follow-up

Imaging at 6–8 weeks, coordination with your home team.

Procedure ~1 hour

Recovery ~2 hours

All outpatient

Is this right for you?

You may be a candidate if:

✓Recurrent / metastatic disease progressing on pembrolizumab + chemo
✓HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer with metastatic progression
✓Cutaneous head-and-neck squamous progressing on cemiplimab
✓Salivary gland tumors progressing on targeted therapy
✓Oligoprogressive disease on systemic therapy

It may not be suitable if:

—Airway compromise without a management plan
—Active severe infection
—Uncorrectable bleeding disorders
—Very poor performance status (ECOG ≥ 3)
—Tumor against the carotid with unmanageable bleeding risk

Each case is individually evaluated by Dr. Williams’ team.

Track record

Innovation for head and neck cancer.

2014

Multi-agent intratumoral protocols

The AblationVax concept.

2015

Combination protocols reported

Yervoy / Opdivo / CpG / PV-10 combinations.

Now

PEF + multi-agent intratumoral protocols

For recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancer.

Ready to move forward?

There is more ahead. Take the next step with confidence.

Complimentary evaluation.

Dr. Williams’ team will personally review your case and imaging — no cost, no obligation.

Or email info@williamscancerinstitute.com

Beverly Hills · San Jose del Cabo · Mexico City — most patients complete treatment in one week

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