<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0204</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-12-23</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001097264</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALLOS THERAPEUTICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALTH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001487607</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GONZALO CECILIA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11080 CIRCLEPOINT RD, SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTMINSTER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.39</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-12-23</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-12-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock options vest according to the following schedule:  One third (1/3) of the total number of shares subject to this option shall vest in equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date, assuming continued service on the Board for such period.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David C. Clark, Attorney-in-Fact for Cecilia Gonzalo</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-12-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
