Amount of additional loan discount recognized using the interest method over the remaining life of the loan.

No definition available.

Name:	cytr_AdditionalLoanDiscount
Namespace Prefix:	cytr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is rescheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cytr_DebtInstrumentAmendedMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	cytr_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cytr_DebtInstrumentFaceAmountCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	cytr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of long term debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cytr_DebtInstrumentFaceAmountNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	cytr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount of cash balance required to be maintained under the terms of a debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cytr_DebtInstrumentMinimumCashBalanceRequiredToBeMaintained
Namespace Prefix:	cytr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt issuance costs classified as current. Includes, but is not limited to, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs and amount of debt discount to be amortized within one year or within the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cytr_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountCurrentAndIssuanceCost
Namespace Prefix:	cytr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt issuance costs classified as noncurrent. Includes, but is not limited to, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs and amount of debt discount to be amortized after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cytr_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountNoncurrentAndIssuanceCost
Namespace Prefix:	cytr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Refers to the Number of days to calculate volume-weighted average price of common stock.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cytr_NumberOfDaysToCalculateVolumeWeightedAveragePriceOfCommonStock
Namespace Prefix:	cytr_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Refers to the percentage of stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cytr_PercentageOfStockIssuableUponExerciseOfWarrants
Namespace Prefix:	cytr_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash outflow for cost from early extinguishment and prepayment of debt. Includes, but is not limited to, third-party cost, premium paid, and other fee paid to lender directly for debt extinguishment or debt prepayment. Excludes accrued interest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cytr_SecondPrepaymentsOfDebtExtinguishmentCosts
Namespace Prefix:	cytr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount of accrued term loan fee as on the balance sheet date that are expected to be paid within one year or within the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cytr_TermLoanFeePayableCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	cytr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount of accrued term loan fee as on the balance sheet date that are expected to be paid after one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cytr_TermLoanFeePayableNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	cytr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Refers to fair value of warrants classified as equity warrants.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cytr_WarrantsClassifiedAsEquityWarrantFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	cytr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The warrants repriced in a noncash (or part noncash) transaction. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cytr_WarrantsRepriced
Namespace Prefix:	cytr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Exercise price per share or per unit of warrants or rights outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(i)(4))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of securities into which the class of warrant or right may be converted. For example, but not limited to, 500,000 warrants may be converted into 1,000,000 shares.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(i)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfSecuritiesCalledByWarrantsOrRights
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The average effective interest rate during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt, classified as current. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs of long-term debt classified as noncurrent and excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtExtinguishmentCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from a debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3255-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_WarrantMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=cytr_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalIncAndHerculesTechnologyIIILPMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_PrimeRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Term Loan (Details) - USD ($)					2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Term Loan (Details) - USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2017	Jul. 28, 2017	Feb. 08, 2016	Feb. 05, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 16, 2016	Dec. 15, 2016	Feb. 29, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount received under initial loan agreement						$ 0	$ 24,012,078	$ 0
Warrants exercise price (in dollars per share)						$ 30			$ 3.06	$ 4.20
Debt instrument, repayment of principal and unpaid interest						$ 15,013,638	0	0
Warrants repriced in connection with debt modification						76,549	0	$ 0
Term Loan, Net - Current						10,599,795	5,481,656
Long Term Loan, Net						$ 0	18,484,510
Warrants [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of warrants issued (in shares)											83,334
Warrants exercise price (in dollars per share)											$ 10.44
Hercules Capital, Inc. and Hercules Technology III, L.P. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount received under initial loan agreement			$ 25,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate				10.50%
Debt instrument, maturity date						Feb. 01, 2020
Debt instrument, minimum cash balance required to be maintained				$ 10,000,000
Debt instrument, repayment of principal and unpaid interest		$ 5,000,000			$ 5,000,000
Prepayment charge		$ 100,000
Second prepayment charge						$ 100,000
Maturity date of amended loan servicing agreement						Aug. 01, 2018
Percentage of stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants	80.00%	80.00%
Number of days to calculate volume-weighted average price of common stock						30 days
Warrants repriced in connection with debt modification						$ 77,000
Additional loan discount						200,000
Term Loan Principal - Current						9,986,362	6,214,057
End Fee Payable						1,771,250	0
Issuance Cost/Loan Discount - Current						(1,157,817)	(732,401)
Term Loan, Net - Current						10,599,795	5,481,656
Long Term Loan Principal						0	18,785,943
End Fee Payable						0	1,771,250
Long Term Loan Discount/Issuance Cost						0	(2,072,683)
Long Term Loan, Net						0	18,484,510
Hercules Capital, Inc. and Hercules Technology III, L.P. [Member] \| Warrants [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of warrants issued (in shares)				105,691
Warrants exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 4.62	$ 4.62		$ 12.30
Fair value of warrants classified as equity warrants						$ 633,749	$ 633,749
Hercules Capital, Inc. and Hercules Technology III, L.P. [Member] \| Prime Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate				6.00%