Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
Craig Adam R
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CTI BIOPHARMA CORP [CTIC]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
See Remarks
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
C/O CTI BIOPHARMA CORP., 3101 WESTERN AVE., SUITE 600
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/20/2017
(Street)

SEATTLE, WA 98121
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 4.24 03/20/2017   A   1,200,000     (1) 03/19/2027 Common Stock 1,200,000 $ 0 1,200,000 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
Craig Adam R
C/O CTI BIOPHARMA CORP.
3101 WESTERN AVE., SUITE 600
SEATTLE, WA 98121
  X     See Remarks  

Signatures

 /s/ Bruce J. Seeley, Attorney-in-fact for Adam R. Craig   03/21/2017
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) The stock options will vest in six equal semi-annual installments over a three-year period beginning March 20, 2017, subject to Dr. Craig's continued employment by CTIC through the applicable vesting dates. The options will fully vest, to the extent then outstanding and unvested, if either (i) Dr. Craig's employment is terminated by CTIC without "Cause" or by him for "Good Reason" following a change in control of CTIC or (ii) Dr. Craig's employment is terminated due to his death or "Disability" (as such terms are defined in Dr. Craig's Employment Agreement). Of the total award, stock options covering 80,000 shares were granted under CTIC's 2015 Equity Incentive Plan and the balance were granted on a stand-alone basis (not under CTIC's 2015 Equity Incentive Plan) in accordance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).
 
Remarks:
Chief Executive Officer and President

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