Testing the Combination of Cabozantinib, Nivolumab, and Ipilimumab (CaboNivoIpi) for Advanced Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

This phase II trial studies how well cabozantinib, nivolumab, and ipilimumab work in treating patients with differentiated thyroid cancer that does not respond to radioactive iodine and that worsened after treatment with a drug targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), a protein needed to form blood vessels. Cabozantinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as nivolumab and ipilimumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving cabozantinib, nivolumab and ipilimumab may work better than the usual approach consisting of chemotherapy with drugs such as doxorubicin, sorafenib, and lenvatinib for this type of thyroid cancer.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To assess the objective response rate, defined as the proportion of patients who have had a partial response (PR) or complete response (CR) within the first 6 months after initiation of therapy with cabozantinib S-malate (XL184 \[cabozantinib\]), nivolumab, and ipilimumab (CaboNivoIpi).

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To assess duration of objective response (DOR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).

II. To assess tolerability and adverse events of CaboNivoIpi in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:

I. To correlate treatment response (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors \[RECIST\] version \[v\]1.1) with tumor mutation status.

II. To correlate treatment response (RECIST v1.1) with frequency of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in biopsies taken pre-treatment and after 12 weeks of CaboNivoIpi therapy.

III. To evaluate the effect of CaboNivoIpi on T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire and to identify the frequency of shared T cell clones between tumor and peripheral blood.

IV. To evaluate the effect of XL184 (cabozantinib) alone and of the CaboNivoIpi combination on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and to correlate their frequency with treatment response (RECIST v1.1).

V. To evaluate the effect of XL184 (cabozantinib) alone and of the CaboNivoIpi combination on myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and to correlate their frequency with treatment response (RECIST v1.1).

VI. To correlate treatment response (RECIST v1.1) with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) / programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in the primary/metastatic tumor.

OUTLINE:

Patients receive cabozantinib S-malate orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days -14 to -1 prior to cycle 1, days 1-42 of cycles 1-4 and days 1-28 of subsequent cycles. Patients also receive nivolumab intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes on days 1, 15, and 29 of cycles 1-4 and day 1 of subsequent cycles and ipilimumab IV over 90 minutes on day 1 of cycles 1-4. Treatment repeats every 42 days for cycles 1-4 and every 28 days for subsequent cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during screening, and blood sample collection throughout the study.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 6 weeks, and then every 12 weeks for up to 2 years.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), follicular thyroid cancer (FTC), or Hurthle cell thyroid cancer (HTC). Follicular variant of PTC or any of the above mixed histology will be allowed, as well as tall cell, insular, or poorly-differentiated thyroid cancers. Patients with anaplastic thyroid cancers (ATC) or medullary thyroid cancers (MTC) are not eligible
* Patients must have measurable disease as defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1
* Patients must have radioactive iodine (RAI)-refractory/resistant disease as defined by one or more of the following criteria:

  * One or more measurable lesions that do not demonstrate RAI uptake,
  * Progressive disease (PD) (new lesion or progression of previously known lesions), as defined by RECIST v1.1, within 12 months of prior RAI therapy,
  * One or more measurable lesion present after cumulative RAI dose of \> 600 mCi, or
  * Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) scan-positive disease (SUV \>= 5 in tumor lesion)
* The patient's disease must have progressed on one line of VEGFR-targeted therapy (including, but not limited to, sorafenib, sunitinib, vandetanib, pazopanib, or lenvatinib, etc.) as defined by PD per RECIST v1.1 while receiving VEGFR-targeted therapy. Patients who have received more than one line of prior VEGFR-targeted therapy will not be eligible
* Prior external beam radiation to extra-osseous disease, systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy or BRAF- or non-VEGFR-targeted therapies will be allowed, provided that \> 4 weeks has elapsed since receiving prior treatment. Radiation to bone metastases is allowed up to 2 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment
* Patients must be \>= 18 years of age. Because no dosing or adverse event data are currently available on the use of XL184 (cabozantinib), nivolumab, or ipilimumab in patients \<18 years of age, children are excluded from this study, but may be eligible for future pediatric trials.
* Patients must have Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =\< 2 (Karnofsky \>= 60%)
* Patients must have recovered to baseline or =\< Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0 grade 1 from toxicities related to any prior treatments, unless adverse event (AE)(s) are clinically nonsignificant and/or stable on supportive therapy
* Absolute neutrophils \>= 1,500/mcL
* Platelets \>= 100,000/mcL
* Hemoglobin \>= 9 g/dL
* Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN); =\< 3.0 x ULN for patients with Gilbert's syndrome
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase \[SGOT\])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase \[SGPT\]) =\< 3.0 x institutional ULN
* Alkaline phosphatase =\< 3.0 x institutional ULN; =\< 5.0 x ULN with documented bone metastases
* Creatinine =\< 1.5 x ULN OR creatinine clearance (CrCl) \>= 50 mL/min (if using the Cockcroft-Gault formula)
* Serum albumin \>= 2.8 g/dL
* Lipase \< 2.0 x ULN and no radiologic or clinical evidence of pancreatitis
* Urine protein/creatinine ratio (UPCR) =\< 1 mg/mg
* Serum phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and potassium within institutional normal limits
* Prothrombin time (PT)/international normalized ratio (INR) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) test \< 1.3 x ULN
* Patients with a history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection must be on an effective anti-retroviral regimen utilizing agents that do not strongly induce or inhibit cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4, and must have an undetectable viral load measured within 6 months prior to study registration
* Patients with evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection must have undetectable HBV viral load on suppressive therapy, if indicated
* Patients with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. Patients with HCV infection who are currently on treatment are eligible if they have an undetectable HCV viral load
* The effects of XL184 (cabozantinib), nivolumab, and ipilimumab on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason, women of child-bearing potential (WOCBP) and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. WOCBP should use an adequate method to avoid pregnancy for 5 months after the last dose of study therapy. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test (minimum sensitivity: 25 IU/L or equivalent units of human chorionic gonadotropin \[hCG\]) within 24 hours prior to the start of study therapy. Women must not be breastfeeding. Men who are sexually active with WOCBP must use any contraceptive method with a failure rate of \< 1% per year. Men who receive study therapy and who are sexually active with WOCBP will be instructed to adhere to contraception for a period of 7 months after the last dose of study therapy. Women who are not of childbearing potential (i.e., who are postmenopausal or surgically sterile) as well as azoospermic men do not require contraception
* WOCBP is defined as any female who has experienced menarche and who has not undergone surgical sterilization (hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy) or who is not postmenopausal. Menopause is defined clinically as 12 months of amenorrhea in a woman over 45 in the absence of other biological or physiological causes. In addition, women under the age of 55 must have a documented serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level \< 40 mIU/mL
* WOCBP and men who are sexually active with WOCBP will be instructed to adhere to contraception for a period of 5 and 7 months, respectively, after the last dose of study therapy. These durations have been calculated using the upper limit of the half-life for nivolumab (25 days) and are based on the protocol requirement that WOCBP use contraception for 5 half-lives plus 30 days and men who are sexually active with WOCBP use contraception for 5 half-lives plus 90 days
* Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she (or the participating partner) must inform the treating physician immediately
* Patients must be able to swallow tablets
* Patients must be able to understand be willing to sign a written informed consent document
* Patients with impaired decision-making capacity (IDMC) will be eligible if they have a legally authorized representative (LAR) or caregiver available to assist them

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients must not have had prior treatment with XL184 (cabozantinib), any MET-targeting tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), or any MET-targeting monoclonal antibody (MetMAb), such as onartuzumab
* Patients must not have had prior treatment with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, anti-CTLA-4 antibody, or any other antibody or drug specifically targeting T cell co-stimulation or immune checkpoint pathways
* Patients must not have a tumor invading or encasing any major blood vessels, and must not have evidence of tumor invading the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (esophagus, stomach, small or large bowel, rectum, or anus), or any evidence of endotracheal or endobronchial tumor within 28 days before the first dose of XL184 (cabozantinib)
* Patients must not have a diagnosis of another malignancy within 2 years before the first dose of study treatment, except for superficial skin cancers, or localized, low grade tumors deemed cured and not treated with systemic therapy. Adjuvant hormonal therapy for history of prostate or breast cancer is allowed
* Patients must not have received cytotoxic chemotherapy (including investigational cytotoxic chemotherapy) or biologic agents (e.g., cytokines or antibodies) within 4 weeks, or nitrosoureas/ mitomycin C within 6 weeks, before the first dose of study treatment. Patients may continue on bone-modifying agents (denosumab or bisphosphonates) with caution
* Patients must not have received radiation therapy:

  * To the thoracic cavity, abdomen, or pelvis within 4 weeks before the first dose of study treatment;
  * To bone metastases within 14 days before the first dose of study treatment;
  * To any other sites within 4 weeks before the first dose of study treatment
* Patients must not have clinically relevant, ongoing complications from prior radiation therapy. Palliative (limited-field) radiation therapy is permitted as long as the patient does not have disease progression according to RECIST v 1.1
* Patients must not have received any type of small molecule kinase inhibitor (including investigational kinase inhibitors) within 4 weeks before the first dose of study treatment
* Patients must not have received any other type of investigational agent within 4 weeks before the first dose of study treatment
* Patients must not have a corrected QT interval calculated by the Fridericia formula (QTcF) \> 500 msec by electrocardiogram (EKG) within 28 days before the first dose of study treatment

  * Note: if a single EKG shows a QTcF with an absolute value \> 500 msec, two additional EKGs at intervals of approximately 3 min must be performed within 30 min after the initial EKG, and the average of these three consecutive results for QTcF will be used to determine eligibility
* Patients should not have known, untreated brain metastases or leptomeningeal metastases because of poor prognosis and concerns that progressive neurologic dysfunction could confound the evaluation of neurologic and other adverse events. However, patients will be eligible if metastases have been treated, and there is no magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of progression for at least 4 weeks after treatment for metastases is complete and within 28 days prior to the first dose of study treatment
* Patients must not require concomitant treatment with oral anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin, direct thrombin, and factor Xa inhibitors) or platelet inhibitors (e.g., clopidogrel). The following anticoagulants are allowed:

  * Low-dose aspirin for cardioprotection (per local applicable guidelines),
  * Low-dose low molecular weight heparins (LMWH),
  * Therapeutic doses of LMWH are allowed in patients without known brain metastases who are on a stable dose of LMWH for at least 6 weeks before the first dose of study treatment, and who have had no clinically significant hemorrhagic complications from the anticoagulation regimen or the tumor
* Patients must not require systemic corticosteroids treatment (\>= 10 mg/day prednisone equivalents) or other immunosuppressive medications within 14 days prior to study drug administration. Inhaled or topical steroids and adrenal replacement doses \< 10 mg/day prednisone equivalents are permitted in the absence of active autoimmune disease. Patients are permitted to use topical, ocular, intra-articular, intranasal, and inhalational corticosteroids (with minimal systemic absorption). Physiologic replacement doses of systemic corticosteroids are permitted, even if \>= 10 mg/day prednisone equivalents. A brief course of corticosteroids for prophylaxis or for treatment of non-autoimmune conditions (e.g., delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction caused by contact allergen) is permitted, as is steroid pre-medication for contrast allergy
* Patients must not have a history of severe hypersensitivity reactions to any monoclonal antibodies
* Patients must not have a history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to agents used in study
* Patients must not require concomitant treatment with strong CYP3A4 inducers (e.g., dexamethasone, phenytoin, carbamazepine, rifampin, rifabutin, rifapentin, phenobarbital, or St. John's wort). Because lists of these agents are constantly changing, it is important to regularly consult a frequently-updated list. Medical reference texts such as the Physicians' Desk Reference may also provide this information. As part of the enrollment/informed consent procedures, patients will be counseled on the risk of interactions with other agents, and what to do if new medications need to be prescribed or if the patient is considering a new over-the-counter medicine or herbal product
* Patients must not have uncontrolled, significant intercurrent or recent illness including, but not limited to, the following conditions:

  * Cardiovascular disorders:

    * Congestive heart failure New York Heart Association (NYHA) class 3 or 4, unstable angina pectoris, serious cardiac arrhythmias
    * Uncontrolled hypertension defined as sustained blood pressure (BP) \> 140 mm Hg systolic or \> 90 mm Hg diastolic despite optimal antihypertensive treatment within seven days prior to the first dose of study treatment
    * Stroke (including transient ischemic attack \[TIA\]), myocardial infarction (MI), or other ischemic event, or thromboembolic event (e.g., deep venous thrombosis \[DVT\], pulmonary embolism \[PE\]) within 6 months before first dose
  * GI disorders including those associated with a high risk of perforation or fistula formation:

    * The patient has evidence of tumor invading the GI tract, active peptic ulcer disease, inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's disease), diverticulitis, cholecystitis, symptomatic cholangitis or appendicitis, acute pancreatitis, acute obstruction of the pancreatic duct or common bile duct, or gastric outlet obstruction
    * Abdominal fistula, GI perforation, bowel obstruction, or intra-abdominal abscess within 6 months before first dose. Complete healing of an intra-abdominal abscess must be confirmed before first dose
  * Clinically significant hematuria, hematemesis, or hemoptysis or other history of significant bleeding (e.g., pulmonary hemorrhage) within 12 weeks before first dose
  * Cavitating pulmonary lesion(s) or known endotracheal or endobronchial disease manifestation
  * Lesions invading or encasing any major blood vessels
  * Other clinically significant disorders that would preclude safe study participation

    * Serious non-healing wound/ulcer/bone fracture
    * Uncompensated/symptomatic hypothyroidism
    * Moderate to severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B or C)
* Patients must not have had major surgery (e.g., GI surgery or removal or biopsy of brain metastasis) within 8 weeks before first dose of study treatment. Complete wound healing from major surgery must have occurred 1 month before the first dose of study treatment and from minor surgery (e.g., simple excision or tooth extraction) at least 10 days before the first dose. Patients with clinically relevant ongoing complications from prior surgery are not eligible
* Pregnant women are excluded from this study because XL184 (cabozantinib) has the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects, and the effects of nivolumab and ipilimumab on the developing fetus are not well known. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for AEs in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother, breastfeeding must be discontinued if the mother is treated with XL184 (cabozantinib), nivolumab, or ipilimumab
* Patients with active autoimmune disease or history of autoimmune disease that might recur, which may affect vital organ function or require immune suppressive treatment including high dose systemic corticosteroids, should be excluded. These include but are not limited to: immune-related neurologic disease, such as multiple sclerosis, autoimmune (demyelinating) neuropathy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, or myasthenia gravis; systemic autoimmune disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), connective tissue diseases, scleroderma, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's, ulcerative colitis, or autoimmune hepatitis. Patients with a history of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), Stevens-Johnson syndrome, or phospholipid syndrome should be excluded because of the risk of recurrence or exacerbation of disease. Patients with vitiligo, type I diabetes mellitus (DM), or endocrine deficiencies (e.g., thyroiditis) managed with replacement hormones, including physiologic corticosteroids, are eligible
* Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other arthropathies, Sjogren's syndrome and psoriasis controlled with topical medication, and patients with positive serology, (e.g., antinuclear antibodies \[ANA\] or anti-thyroid antibodies) should be evaluated for the presence of target organ involvement and potential need for systemic treatment but should otherwise be eligible