<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-04</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><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><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-04</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>C</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>49410.0000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>49410.0000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Family Trust</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>182143.0000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Family Trust</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4544.0000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Family Trust</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Series A Preferred Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.1200</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-11-04</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>C</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>49410.0000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F4" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F1" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>49410.0000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Family Trust</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Not applicable to this transaction.</footnote><footnote id="F2">By Hale Family Trust dated February 10, 1986.</footnote><footnote id="F3">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 is not deemed an admission of beneficial ownership for purposes of Section 16 or any other purpose.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Immediatley convertible.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Hazel M. Aker Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-06</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

