EXHIBIT 23.1
 
              CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
  We consent to the reference to our firm under the captions "Selected
Financial Data" and "Experts" in the Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-
     ) and related Prospectus of Cell Therapeutics, Inc. for the registration
of 2,300,000 shares of its common stock and to the incorporation by reference
therein of our report dated January 24, 1997, except for paragraphs 2 through
4 of Note 12, as to which the date is March 26, 1997, with respect to the
consolidated financial statements of Cell Therapeutics, Inc. included in its
Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1996, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
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                                          Ernst & Young LLP
 
Seattle, Washington
September 26, 1997