Berlin/Heidelberg (CNN) – in the fight against the lung cancer is the most important weapon a sharp increase in the cigarette tax according to doctors. «Experiences from other countries show that in a ten-percent rise in prices for cigarettes, the number of adult smokers by around four percent in children and adolescents by 12 percent due», Martina Pötschke Langer reported Heidelberg of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) on Friday on the 26 German Cancer Congress in Berlin. The head of the DKFZ, Prof. Otmar Wiestler, won there in the evening a part of the German Cancer prize. The official opening called the President of the German Cancer Society, Prof. Klaus Höffken, the establishment of a national of Cancer Institute. «We are suffering from not a lack of knowledge, but a lack of implementation», urged in his advance widespread speech manuscript Höffken. In such a national cancer program American-type and with 10 to 15 nationwide cancer centers nationwide oncologists all disciplines should work together. «Everybody does what he can best – for the benefit of cancer patients», summarized Höffken. However working cancer registry, that there is so far not everywhere are prerequisite. In Pötschke Langer criticized in terms of prevention, that a gradual tax increases such as currently in Germany the case vigorously deterrence. From the perspective of the physician, the increase in the cases of lung cancer in the future will increase still concern because smokers were getting younger and younger. «In the region of Berlin the age is now 11.6 years», Pötschke Langer said. A prohibition of advertising for cigarettes and the extension of the smoke-free zones are therefore indispensable. «We need to call the lung cancer epidemic caused by people», said Prof. Peter Drings, Secretary General of the German Cancer Society. No other tumor had so greatly increased in the past five decades. In Germany, some 40 000 people, far above all men die from per year. About 85 percent of these deaths are due to smoking. In the evening, the German Cancer Society awarded the three-part, endowed with 7,500 euros each cancer Prize for outstanding scientific research at four researchers. DKFZ Chief Wiestler shares with Prof. Jürgen Becker (Würzburg) the price for the transfer of experimental knowledge in the clinical phase. Prof. Martin Eilers (Marburg), he received the award for his experimental work, in which «uniquely cell biological knowledge with genome-based research» connect. Prof. Rolf Sauer (Erlangen/Nürnberg) was awarded for a clinical trial to the cancer. The DKFZ Heidelberg had launched a motivation campaign «Smoke-free 2004» together with the Federal Centre for health education on Ash Wednesday, in EUR 10 000 are to win. From 1 May to smokers to this four-week period waive tobacco. More than 7000 participants and about 800 speakers are expected by Wednesday to the cancer Congress in Berlin.