Table 1

Treatment regimen and supportive care

DrugDose and routeDurationScheduleDose modifications for toxicity
Rituximab 375 mg/m2 IV infusion Over 2-6 h Before each EPOCH cycle (arm A) or weekly times 6 weeks after EPOCH completed (arm B) Skin/mucositis: discontinue if attributed to rituximab 
EPOCH     
    Etoposide 50 mg/m2/day by continuous IV infusion 4 days (96 h) Every 3 weeks Hematolotogic*: reduce by 25%Renal: reduce to 25% if creatinine clearance < 40 mL/min 
    Doxorubicin 10 mg/m2/day by continuous IV infusion 4 days (96 h) Every 3 weeks Hematologic*: reduce by 25%Hepatic: reduce to 25% if direct bilirubin > 2.5 mg/dL 
    Vincristine 0.4 mg/m2/day by continuous IV infusion 4 days (96 h) Every 3 weeks Neurotoxicity: obstipation or unable to walk on heels, reduce to 0.3 mg/m2/day; difficulty ambulating, discontinueHepatic: reduce to 25% if direct bilirubin > 2.5 mg/dLRenal: reduce to 25% if creatinine clearance < 40 mL/min 
    Prednisone 60 mg/m2 per day orally 5 days Every 3 weeks  
    Cyclophosphamide Cycle 1 187 mg/m2 IV if CD4 < 100/μL375 mg/m2 IV if CD4 > 100/μL 60-minute infusion Every 3 weeks after completion of etoposide, doxorubicin, vincristine infusion Cycle 2-6: escalate dose in increments of 187 mg/m2 per cycle if neutrophil nadir > 500/μL and platelet nadir > 25 000/μL in preceding cycleReduce dose in increments of 187 mg/m2 if the nadir neutrophil count was < 500/μL or platelet nadir < 25 000/μL in preceding cycle 
Supportive care     
    Filgrastim (or pegfilgrastim) 5 μg/kg subcutaneous injection (or pegfilgrastim 6 mg) ∼ 24 h after EPOCH completed Daily until neutrophil recovery (or once for pegfilgrastim) Begin on day 6 after EPOCH completed  
    Trimethorprim-sulfamethoxazole 160-800 mg PO Continuous 3× weekly (eg, Monday, Wednesday, Friday)  
    Fluconazole 100 mg PO Continuous Daily  
    Ciprofloxacin 500 mg PO BID (or alternative quinolone and dose at discretion of physician) At least 8 days each cycle Begin on day 8 of each cycle, continue until day 15 or postnadir neutrophil count ≥ 1000/μL  
DrugDose and routeDurationScheduleDose modifications for toxicity
Rituximab 375 mg/m2 IV infusion Over 2-6 h Before each EPOCH cycle (arm A) or weekly times 6 weeks after EPOCH completed (arm B) Skin/mucositis: discontinue if attributed to rituximab 
EPOCH     
    Etoposide 50 mg/m2/day by continuous IV infusion 4 days (96 h) Every 3 weeks Hematolotogic*: reduce by 25%Renal: reduce to 25% if creatinine clearance < 40 mL/min 
    Doxorubicin 10 mg/m2/day by continuous IV infusion 4 days (96 h) Every 3 weeks Hematologic*: reduce by 25%Hepatic: reduce to 25% if direct bilirubin > 2.5 mg/dL 
    Vincristine 0.4 mg/m2/day by continuous IV infusion 4 days (96 h) Every 3 weeks Neurotoxicity: obstipation or unable to walk on heels, reduce to 0.3 mg/m2/day; difficulty ambulating, discontinueHepatic: reduce to 25% if direct bilirubin > 2.5 mg/dLRenal: reduce to 25% if creatinine clearance < 40 mL/min 
    Prednisone 60 mg/m2 per day orally 5 days Every 3 weeks  
    Cyclophosphamide Cycle 1 187 mg/m2 IV if CD4 < 100/μL375 mg/m2 IV if CD4 > 100/μL 60-minute infusion Every 3 weeks after completion of etoposide, doxorubicin, vincristine infusion Cycle 2-6: escalate dose in increments of 187 mg/m2 per cycle if neutrophil nadir > 500/μL and platelet nadir > 25 000/μL in preceding cycleReduce dose in increments of 187 mg/m2 if the nadir neutrophil count was < 500/μL or platelet nadir < 25 000/μL in preceding cycle 
Supportive care     
    Filgrastim (or pegfilgrastim) 5 μg/kg subcutaneous injection (or pegfilgrastim 6 mg) ∼ 24 h after EPOCH completed Daily until neutrophil recovery (or once for pegfilgrastim) Begin on day 6 after EPOCH completed  
    Trimethorprim-sulfamethoxazole 160-800 mg PO Continuous 3× weekly (eg, Monday, Wednesday, Friday)  
    Fluconazole 100 mg PO Continuous Daily  
    Ciprofloxacin 500 mg PO BID (or alternative quinolone and dose at discretion of physician) At least 8 days each cycle Begin on day 8 of each cycle, continue until day 15 or postnadir neutrophil count ≥ 1000/μL  

IV indicates intravenous; PO, by mouth; and BID, twice a day.

*

Toxicity calling for dose reduction of doxorubicin and etoposide included a neutrophil nadir less than 500/μL for at least 3 days or platelets less than 25 000/μL for at least 3 days if this occurs during a cycle in which no cyclophosphamide was given; otherwise, doxorubicin/etoposide was not reduced.