- Arm I (EPOCH-R): Patients receive rituximab IV on day 1; etoposide IV, doxorubicin hydrochloride IV, and vincristine sulfate IV continuously over 96 hours on days 1-4; cyclophosphamide IV over 30 minutes on day 5; and oral prednisone twice daily on days 1-5. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.