Background: Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are cancers originating in the thymus gland. Platinum-based chemotherapy is standard treatment for them. But not uncommonly, the disease returns and people need more treatment to keep the cancer from growing. The drug Avelumab could help the immune system fight cancer. Objective: To test if avelumab is safe and well-tolerated, and is effective in treating relapsed or refractory thymoma and thymic carcinoma. Eligibility: People ages 18 and older with thymoma or thymic carcinoma that has returned or progressed after platinum-containing chemotherapy Design: Participants will be screened with: * Blood, urine, and heart tests * Scan: They lie in a machine that takes pictures of the body. * Physical exam * Medical history * Biopsy: a needle removes a piece of tumor. Samples can be from a previous procedure, although it is desirable to undergo a new biopsy. Participants will have treatment in 2-week cycles. They will continue until the side effects are not tolerable or their disease gets worse. Visits at the following time points are required per protocol. Patients who respond to treatment or have durable stability after at least 12 months of therapy may undergo a dose de-escalation regimen to continue on therapy. * Every 2 weeks: Participants will get avelumab by infusion in a vein (IV). They will get diphenhydramine (benadryl) and acetaminophen (tylenol) by mouth or IV before receiving avelumab to decrease the chances of developing a reaction to avelumab. They will have blood, urine, and heart tests periodically. * Cycles 4 and 7, then every 6 weeks: Scans will be performed to look for shrinkage or growth of tumor. * Cycle 4: Participants will be offered a chance to undergo a biopsy. * 2-4 weeks after stopping treatment: Blood, urine, and heart tests will be performed. Participants might undergo a scan. * 10 weeks after stopping treatment: Blood, urine, and heart tests. * About 6 months after stopping treatment, then every 3 months: Participants will have scans andcan allow genetic testing on their blood and tissue samples.
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Safety and tolerability of Avelumab based on NCI-CTCAE v4.0
Timeframe: End of every cycle
Objective Response Rate (ORR) based on RECIST 1.1 criteria
Timeframe: Every other cycle