Phase I/II - Brentuximab/5-Azacytidine in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Histologically or cytologically confirmed AML, other than acute promyelocytic leukemia, as defined by the 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) criteria that is relapsed or refractory to standard chemotherapy. Note: Newly-diagnosed AML patients who are 60 years or older and are not candidates for or have refused standard chemotherapy are also eligible for this trial.
2. AML blasts must express CD30 (\>/=10% expression as assessed by flow-cytometry or 2+ expression by immunohistochemistry) (whenever possible CD30 expression will be assessed by both methods)
3. Age 18 years or older
4. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status score of \</=3
5. The following baseline laboratory data: Serum bilirubin \</=1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) or \</= 3 x ULN for patients with Gilbert's disease; Serum creatinine \</=1.5 x ULN AND creatinine clearance \>30 ml/min; Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \</=3 x ULN
6. Females of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-hCG) pregnancy test result within 14 days prior to the first dose of brentuximab vedotin and must agree to use an effective contraception method during the study and for 30 days following the last dose of study drug. Females of non- childbearing potential are those who are postmenopausal greater than 1 year or who have had a bilateral tubal ligation or hysterectomy.
7. Males who have partners of childbearing potential must agree to use an effective contraceptive method during the study and for 30 days following the last dose of study drug
8. Patients or their legally authorized representative must provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of another primary invasive malignancy that has not been definitively treated or in remission for at least 2 years. Patients with non-melanoma skin cancers or with carcinomas in situ are eligible regardless of the time from diagnosis (including concomitant diagnoses).
2. Documented history of a cerebral vascular event (stroke or transient ischemic attack), unstable angina, myocardial infarction, or cardiac symptoms consistent with New York Heart Association Class III-IV within 6 months prior to their first dose of brentuximab vedotin
3. Evidence of active cerebral/meningeal disease. Patients may have history of central nervous system (CNS) leukemic involvement if definitively treated with prior therapy and no evidence of active disease at the time of registration.
4. Previous treatment with any anti-CD30 directed therapy
5. Patients with previous allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) if they meet either of the following criteria: \<100 days from allogeneic SCT, Acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), or Receiving immunosuppressive therapy as treatment for or prophylaxis against GvHD within the last 7 days
6. Patients with uncontrolled active infections (viral, bacterial, and fungal) are not eligible.
7. Known to be positive for hepatitis B by surface antigen expression
8. Known to have active hepatitis C infection (positive by polymerase chain reaction or on antiviral therapy for hepatitis C within the last 6 months)
9. Preexisting grade \>/=2 peripheral neuropathy
10. Patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
11. Current therapy with other systemic anti-neoplastic or anti-neoplastic investigational agents.
12. Chemotherapy (except hydroxyurea or emergent use of single-agent cytarabine for cytoreduction), radiotherapy, biologics, and/or other treatment with immunotherapy that is not completed 2 weeks prior to first dose of study drug, unless progressive disease is documented. NOTE: Hydroxyurea will be allowed during the first cycle of treatment
13. Females who are pregnant or lactating
14. Known hypersensitivity to any excipient contained in the drug formulation of brentuximab vedotin
15. History of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)