From the internet:


apoptosis

Synonyms: necrobiosis

Definition: (AP-oh-TOE-sis, ah-POP-tuh-sis) A normal
series of events in a cell that lead to its death (and then
replacement). Cancer cells avoid apoptosis.

May also be called necrobiosis.

A URL about the scientists sharing Nobel Prize for research on Apoptosis:
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/topstory/8041/8041notw4.html