Testing the Addition of BMS-986016 (Relatlimab) to the Usual Immunotherapy After Initial Treatment for Recurrent or Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Cancer

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To determine if adding BMS-986016 (relatlimab) to nivolumab maintenance therapy shows a signal of improved progression-free survival (PFS) according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 in patients who do not progress following treatment with platinum-gemcitabine-nivolumab combination in the first-line treatment of recurrent and/or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M NPC). SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine if adding BMS-986016 (relatlimab) to nivolumab maintenance improves overall survival (OS) compared to nivolumab maintenance alone. II. To compare patterns of failure (local-regional relapse and distant metastasis) between treatment arms. III. To determine if adding BMS-986016 (relatlimab) to nivolumab maintenance improves objective response, duration of response, and disease control rate compared to nivolumab maintenance alone. IV. To evaluate the tolerability of nivolumab-BMS-986016 (relatlimab) maintenance and assess and compare toxicity between arms based on the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0 (CTCAE v5.0) criteria. V. To evaluate baseline plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA (\< 2000 copies/mL versus \[vs.\] \>= 2000 copies/mL) as a prognostic biomarker. VI. To validate post-induction plasma EBV DNA (detectable \[\>= 1 copies/mL\] vs. undetectable \[0 copies/mL\]) as a prognostic biomarker. EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES: I. To collect blood and tissue specimens for future translational science studies. II. To assess post-induction plasma EBV DNA (detectable \[\>= 1 copies/mL\] vs. undetectable \[0 copies/mL\]) as a predictive biomarker. OUTLINE: INDUCTION THERAPY: Patients receive nivolumab intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle, cisplatin IV or carboplatin IV over 30-60 minutes on day 1 of each cycle and gemcitabine IV over 30 minutes on days 1 and 8 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 6 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and blood sample collection during screening and on study. MAINTENANCE THERAPY: Patients who do not progress radiologically are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM I: Patients receive nivolumab IV over 30 minutes. Cycles repeat every 4 weeks for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo CT or MRI on study. Patients also undergo positron emission tomography (PET)/CT or bone scan as clinically indicated. ARM II: Patients receive nivolumab IV over 30 minutes and relatlimab IV over 30-90 minutes. Cycles repeat every 4 weeks for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo CT or MRI on study. Patients also undergo PET/CT or bone scan as clinically indicated. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 4 months for 2 years, every 6 months in years 3-5, and then annually.