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 Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement
(Form S-3 No. 333-36603) 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.
    
                                            /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
 
Seattle, Washington
October 3, 1997