Therefore, a multicenter, randomized phase 2 study of intravenous r-HuEPO, steroids and RT will allow the investigators to address three issues: i) confirm that the logistical issues at each center can be addressed; ii) confirm in a larger cohort of patients whether the encouraging neurologic outcomes seen in the preliminary study can be replicated across different settings when compared with a randomized control group; iii) ensure the safety of EPO in this population including overall survival and incidence of subsequent TVEs with and without EPO.