A SYMBOLIC milestone in the fight against cancer has been reached with the burial of a time capsule at the UK’s only cancer immunology centre.

Containing a pledge to cure cancer from top oncology specialists, a Saints shirt signed by Matt Le Tissier and a drawing by three-year-old cancer survivor Phelan Jordan, the capsule was buried at Southampton University’s £25 million Centre for Cancer Immunology.

As previously reported by the Daily Echo, Southampton will be at the forefront of the battle against cancer when the centre opens in September 2017, bringing leading cancer scientists together to expand clinical trials and develop lifesaving drugs.

In groundbreaking research, immunotherapy uses the body’s immune system to eradicate cancer – for life.

"Little Phelan is already a great success story. After being diagnosed with neuroblastoma at the age of eighteenth months he was given only a 50 per cent chance of survival.

"When his cancer did not respond to intensive chemotherapy treatment, he was given immunotherapy treatment for six months – and now his chances of remaining well have been significantly increased as a direct result.

The capsule was buried at the Southampton General Hospital site by hospital chief executive Fiona Dalton, Saints star Matt le Tissier, Southampton University’s vice chancellor Professor Sir Christopher Snowden and Professor Tim Elliott, director of the centre.

He said: “We hope that by the time the capsule is excavated, cancer, like smallpox, will be a thing of the past,” while Matt le Tissier added: “and hopefully Saints will be in the premiership.”