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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TdEu+oiDO/KcakkNSVbDxbO9qbEMXytMxXXke0kuP8+ZkDT+jj2TM1NYU1jkACuA
 EVI738GNQ99AeIQOn+e1iA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000891293-09-000035.txt : 20090925
<SEC-HEADER>0000891293-09-000035.hdr.sgml : 20090925
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090925200217
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000891293-09-000035
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090925
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090925
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090925

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Eramian Daniel G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001355850

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12465
		FILM NUMBER:		091088696

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		501 ELLIOTT AVE. W.
		STREET 2:		SUITE #400
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98119

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CELL THERAPEUTICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000891293
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				911533912
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		501 ELLIOTT AVE W
		STREET 2:		STE 400
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98119
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2062707100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		501 ELLIOTT AVE W
		STREET 2:		STE 400
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98119
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-09-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000891293</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CELL THERAPEUTICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CTIC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001355850</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Eramian Daniel G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>501 ELLIOTT AVE. W.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE #400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98119</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Corporate Communications</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-09-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>104276</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1269955</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Proceeds from the sale were primarily used to cover taxes related to the vesting of restricted stock on 9/25/2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Louis A. Bianco, Attorney-in-fact for Daniel G. Eramian</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-09-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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