-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NJwLXO96j/8mGmvjXO/hD5wQmAkBkjyIQkeo5dVDYz3nROJZV0qeAASxcQCJszXP
 LlsDDK7mJ4nqliEEmXPDpg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001250853-03-000024.txt : 20031017
<SEC-HEADER>0001250853-03-000024.hdr.sgml : 20031017
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031017181622
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001250853-03-000024
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031010
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031017

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCDADE HERBERT H JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001252439

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15327
		FILM NUMBER:		03946841

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11726 SAN VICENTE BLVD
		STREET 2:		STE 650
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90049

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CYTRX CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000799698
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				581642750
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11726 SAN VICENTE BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 650
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90049
		BUSINESS PHONE:		310-826-5648

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11726 SAN VICENTE BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 650
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90049
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-10-10</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000799698</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CYTRX CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CYTR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001252439</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCDADE HERBERT H JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1421 PARTRIDGE PLACE NORTH</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>QUAIL RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOYNTON BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33436</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Director until 10-10-2003</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.71</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6667</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-10-10</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-07-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6667</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.35</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-10-10</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-10-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reporting Person received a stock option to purchase 10,000 shares of Issuer's common stock on July 16, 2002 (the &quot;2002 Option&quot;).  Of the shares originally granted in the 2002 Option, 6,667 were unvested as of 10-10-03.  Upon Reporting Person's retirement from the Board of Directors of Issuer on 10-10-03, the vesting of all 6,667 shares of the 2002 Option was accelerated to be immediately exercisable.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Grant of stock option to purchase Issuer's common stock at $.71 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Grant of stock option to purchase Issuer's common stock at $2.35 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Herbert H. McDade</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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