Table 2 Reasons to consider induction chemotherapy

• rapid start of treatment

• fast improvement of dysphagia, feeding tubes can nearly always be avoided

• test of patient compliance also to consider further therapy decisions

• increase of compliance of the following CRT because of better nutritional status and less dysphagia

• in vivo testing of chemotherapy before the start of radiotherapy

• more and early systemic treatment for possible metastatic disease (most patients still die of systemic disease)