<?xml version="1.0"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="..\4_X02.xsl"?><ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType>    <periodOfReport>2005-05-31</periodOfReport>    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>    <issuer>        <issuerCik>0000891293</issuerCik>        <issuerName>CELL THERAPEUTICS INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>CTIC</issuerTradingSymbol>    </issuer>    <reportingOwner>        <reportingOwnerId>            <rptOwnerCik>0001198554</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>BIANCO JAMES A</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>1</isDirector>            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>            <isOther>0</isOther>            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>        </reportingOwnerRelationship>    </reportingOwner>    <nonDerivativeTable>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2005-05-31</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>                <footnoteId id="F1"/>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionTimeliness>                <value></value>            </transactionTimeliness>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>18000</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>2.95</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>681972</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeHolding>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>780</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>I</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>                <natureOfOwnership>                    <value>By wife</value>                </natureOfOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeHolding>        <nonDerivativeHolding>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>77</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>I</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>                <natureOfOwnership>                    <value>By wife as cust.</value>                </natureOfOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeHolding>    </nonDerivativeTable>    <footnotes>        <footnote id="F1">Involuntary liquidation pursuant to Margin Call.</footnote>    </footnotes>    <ownerSignature>        <signatureName>Louis A. Bianco, Attorney-in-fact for James A. Bianco</signatureName>        <signatureDate>2005-06-02</signatureDate>    </ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>