BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Each day, 3,400 people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer and another 1,500 die from the disease.

A new study published in the journal Nature details how researchers used the common cold virus to kill cancer cells in the body.

Usually, an abnormal cell is programmed to self-destruct so any tumors or infections won't spread and multiply.

Scientists say a gene, called P53, suppresses the tumors -- killing damaged cells before they can multiply. But, tumors can switch off this gene in order to grow leading to cancer.

The common cold virus is also able to turn off the gene. So, researchers modified the cold virus by eliminating its ability to turn off the P53 gene -- then implanted the altered virus into the tumor cell.

It killed the damaged cell as the virus reproduced but didn't spread to normal cells where the P53 still worked. The new research should help doctors come up with new ways to target tumors and reduce the spread of cancer.