Brentuximab Vedotin With or Without Nivolumab in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory CD30+ Lymphoma

Inclusion Criteria:

Relapsed or refractory CD30+ lymphoma that has either achieved < PR to brentuximab vedotin (minimum of 2 cycles), progressed while receiving brentuximab vedotin, or progressed within 6 months of the last dose of brentuximab vedotin
Documented expression of CD30 on tumor cells
Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) > 1,000/uL
Platelets > 50,000/uL
Serum creatinine < 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance > 60 mL/min
Bilirubin < 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) < 2.5 x ULN
Measurable disease by computed tomography (CT) or similar (e.g. magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) criteria (> 1.5 cm). (Patients with cutaneous lymphoma only require measurable disease by Olsen Criteria)
Age >= 18 yrs at the time of the first dose of study drug
Resolution of all non-hematologic brentuximab vedotin-related and nivolumab-related adverse events (AEs) to < Grade 2
All patients must be informed of the investigational nature of this study and have given written consent in accordance with institutional and federal guidelines
Patients must be anticipated to complete at least 2 cycles of chemotherapy on study
Expected survival if untreated of > 90 days

Exclusion Criteria:

Prior transplant within 100 days
Radioimmunotherapy within 12 weeks
Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B positivity or prior progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)
Active infection or other medical condition which would preclude treatment in the opinion of the principal investigator; this would include a corrected diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) of < 60% predicted or symptomatic interstitial lung disease
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status > 2
Known active central nervous system (CNS) involvement
Peripheral neuropathy > grade 1 if due to brentuximab vedotin or any peripheral neuropathy > grade 2
Intolerance to brentuximab vedotin
Concurrent use of other anti-cancer agents or experimental treatments
No current or prior autoimmune disease with the exception of vitiligo and autoimmune alopecia (Arm B only)
Pregnancy or breastfeeding; (females of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine beta human chorionic gonadotropin [beta-hCG] pregnancy test result within 7 days prior to the first dose of brentuximab vedotin; females with false positive results and documented verification that the patient is not pregnant are eligible for participation; females of non-childbearing potential are those who are postmenopausal greater than 1 year or who have had a bilateral tubal ligation or hysterectomy; females of childbearing potential and males who have partners of childbearing potential must agree to use 2 effective contraceptive methods during the study and for 6 months following the last dose of brentuximab vedotin or 6 months following the last dose of nivolumab, whichever is later)