<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-29</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001131907</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CANCERVAX CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CNVX</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001024004</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HALE DAVID F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2110 RUTHERFORD ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CARLSBAD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92008</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><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>182143</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Family Trust.</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4544</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Family Trust</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>3.3</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-06-13</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-06-12</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>249999</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>3.3</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-03-20</value><footnoteId id="F4" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-03-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>204544</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>1.078</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-12-19</value><footnoteId id="F5" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-12-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>202971</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Series A Preferred Stock</value><footnoteId id="F6" /></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.12</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F7" /><footnoteId id="F8" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F9" /><footnoteId id="F10" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>49410</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Family Trust</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">By Hale Family Trust dated February 10, 1986.</footnote><footnote id="F2">By Michael T. Hale Trust dated December 26, 1991 for the benefit of Shane Hale, Tara Hale, Erin Hale and David Garrett Hale.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, and the inclusion of these shares in this report shall not be deemed an admission of beneficial ownership for purposes of Section 16 or any other purpose.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Vest daily in equal installments over 4 years beginning 6/13/2003.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Vest daily in equal installments over 4 years beginning 3/20/2002.</footnote><footnote id="F5">Vest daily in equal installments over 4 years beginning 9/1/2000.</footnote><footnote id="F6">These securities will automatically convert into shares of Common Stock upon the consummation of CancerVax's initial public offering.</footnote><footnote id="F7">Immediately convertible.</footnote><footnote id="F8">Immediately convertible.</footnote><footnote id="F9">The expiration date is not relevant to this transaction.</footnote><footnote id="F10">The expiration date is not relevant to this transaction.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Hazel M. Aker
Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-29</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

