Ibrutinib, Idarubicin and Cytarabine in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia

INCLUSION CRITERIA * Previous morphologically-confirmed diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) based on World Health Organization (WHO) Criteria * At least one prior chemotherapy regimen to treat AML * Disease relapse or refractory disease as shown by \> 5% blasts in the bone marrow (not attributable to another cause). Administration of hydrea to control high WBC count is permitted. * Age ≥ 18 years * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 2, or Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥ 60% * Life expectancy \> 4 weeks * Platelet count ≥ 10,000/mm3 within 72 hours of initiating the Induction Cycle (platelet transfusion support is allowed) * Serum creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL within 72 hours of initiating the Induction Cycle * Total bilirubin ≤ 2.1 mg/dL within within 72 hours of initiating the Induction Cycle (EXCEPTION: If elevation is not due to liver dysfunction, and is due primarily to elevated unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia secondary to Gilbert's syndrome, or hemolysis of non-hepatic origin) * Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) \[aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \] ≤ 3.0 X upper limit of normal (ULN) within 72 hours of initiating the Induction Cycle * Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) \[alanine aminotransferase (ALT)\] ≤ 3.0 X ULN within 72 hours of initiating the Induction Cycle * Baseline prothrombin time (PT)/international normalized ratio (INR) ratio \< 3 X ULN within 7 days of initiating the Induction Cycle (for subjects with correctable coagulation abnormalities, coagulation factor support per institutional standard of care for AML is allowed) * Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) \< 3 X ULN within 7 days of initiating the Induction Cycle (for subjects with correctable coagulation abnormalities, coagulation factor support per institutional standard of care for AML is allowed) * Negative pregnancy test within 14 days prior to study treatment (for Women of reproductive potential only) * Women of child-bearing potential and men must agree (in ICF) to use adequate contraception (eg, hormonal or barrier methods of birth control; abstinence; sterilized partner) for the duration of study participation * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign the written informed consent document EXCLUSION CRITERIA * Received anticancer therapy (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, or investigational therapy) within 2 weeks prior to starting study treatment \[EXCEPTION: Hydroxyurea (hydrea) to control high white blood cell count is permitted\] * Receiving any other investigational agents within 14 days or 5 effective half lives (whichever is shorter) prior to 1st dose of ibrutinib * Prior treatment with ibrutinib * Known unresolved toxicities due to prior anticancer therapy \[≥ Grade 2, by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.03\] unless otherwise defined in the inclusion/exclusion criteria (EXCEPTION: alopecia) * Known acute promyelocytic leukemia (French-American-British Class M3-AML) * Known active central nervous system (CNS) leukemia * Prior bone marrow transplant presenting with active uncontrolled graft vs host disease (GvHD) * Known congenital bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia * Known history of stroke or intracranial hemorrhage within 6 months prior to study treatment * Concomitant use of warfarin or other vitamin K antagonists * Requires treatment with strong CYP3A inhibitors at the time of study enrollment. Washout period is 5 effective half-lives is required prior to 1st dose of ibrutinib * Requires treatment with strong CYP3A inducers at the time of study enrollment. Washout period is 5 effective half-lives is required prior to 1st dose of ibrutinib * Known active uncontrolled systemic infection * Major surgery within 4 weeks of 1st dose of ibrutinib * Unable to swallow capsules * Known Malabsorption syndrome * Known Disease significantly affecting gastrointestinal function * Resection of the stomach or small bowel * Uncontrolled symptomatic inflammatory bowel disease * Ulcerative colitis * Bowel obstruction, partial or complete * Congestive heart failure with ejection fraction (EF) \< 45% * Uncontrolled cardiac disease, including uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia or coronary artery disease (CAD) with active symptoms due to CAD defined as unstable angina * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to ibrutinib; idarubicin; or cytarabine * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to: * Active infection * Psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * Pregnant * Lactating * Known positive HIV * Known active hepatitis C * Unable to understand the purpose and risks of the study and to provide a signed and dated informed consent form (ICF) and authorization to use protected health information (in accordance with national and local subject privacy regulations)