Rituximab, Lenalidomide, and Nivolumab in Treating Participants With Relapsed or Refractory Non-Germinal Center Type Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma or Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

Inclusion Criteria

• •Understand and voluntarily sign an informed consent form.
• •Able to adhere to the study visit schedule and other protocol requirements in the opinion of the investigator
• •Patients with histological confirmation of relapsed/refractory non-GCB type (using Hans algorithm) diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or relapsed/refractory primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) with at least one of the following characteristics:
• •* Definition of refractory disease: progression of disease based on Cheson criteria for DLBCL or international primary CNS lymphoma cooperative group for PCNSL either with nonresponse or progression within 3 months of prior therapy
• •* Definition of relapsed disease: progression of disease based on Cheson criteria for DLBCL or International primary CNS lymphoma cooperative group for PCNSL at least 3 months after prior therapy
• •* Definition of non-GCB subtype (Hans algorithm): cases will be subclassified based on immunohistochemical staining with CD10, BCL-6 and MUM-1 as previously described.
• •* Patients should have exhausted (or be ineligible for) approved therapies known to provide clinical benefit for DLBCL or PCNSL (e.g. high dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplant, chimeric antigen receptor-transduced \[CAR-T\] therapy, etc.).
• •Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of =\< 2 at study entry.
• •Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1000/mm\^3 within 45 days prior to initiation of therapy. (Patients with documented marrow involvement (with lymphoma) or hypersplenism secondary to involvement of the spleen by lymphoma at the time of randomization are not required to meet the parameter).
• •Platelet count \>= 75K /mm\^3 within 45 days prior to initiation of therapy. (Patients with documented marrow involvement (with lymphoma) or hypersplenism secondary to involvement of the spleen by lymphoma at the time of randomization are not required to meet the parameter).
• •Serum creatinine =\< 2.0 mg/dL or creatinine clearance of \> 40 ml/min within 45 days prior to initiation of therapy. (Patients with documented marrow involvement (with lymphoma) or hypersplenism secondary to involvement of the spleen by lymphoma at the time of randomization are not required to meet the parameter).
• •Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 mg/dL within 45 days prior to initiation of therapy. (Patients with documented marrow involvement (with lymphoma) or hypersplenism secondary to involvement of the spleen by lymphoma at the time of randomization are not required to meet the parameter).
• •Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase \[SGOT\]) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase \[SGPT\]) =\< 2 x upper limit of normal (ULN) within 45 days prior to initiation of therapy. (Patients with documented marrow involvement (with lymphoma) or hypersplenism secondary to involvement of the spleen by lymphoma at the time of randomization are not required to meet the parameter).
• •Disease free of prior malignancies for \>= 3 years with exception of currently treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or carcinoma "in situ" of the cervix or breast.
• •All study participants must be registered into the mandatory Revlimid Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) program, and be willing and able to comply with the requirements of the Revlimid REMS program. program, and be willing and able to comply with the requirements of the Revlimid REMS program.
• •\* Females of childbearing potential (FCBP) must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test with a sensitivity of at least 50 mIU/mL within 10-14 days and again within 24 hours prior to prescribing lenalidomide for cycle 1 (prescriptions must be filled within 7 days as required by the Revlimid REMS program) and must either commit to continued abstinence from heterosexual intercourse or begin TWO acceptable methods of birth control, one highly effective method and one additional effective method AT THE SAME TIME, at least 28 days before she starts taking lenalidomide. FCBP must also agree to ongoing pregnancy testing. Men must agree to use a latex condom during sexual contact with a FCBP even if they have had a successful vasectomy.
• •\*\* A female of childbearing potential is a sexually mature female who: 1) has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or 2) has not been naturally postmenopausal for at least 24 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the preceding 24 consecutive months).
• •Able to take aspirin (81 or 325 mg) daily or for thromboprophylaxis with lenalidomide.