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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-02-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000880643</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENTA INC DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GNTAD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001137918</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ITRI LORETTTA M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GENTA INCORPORATED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>200 CONNELL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BERKELEY HEIGHTS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07922</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Pres R&amp;D Chief Medical Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>152695</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20514588</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 52,622 shares of common stock potentially issuable upon the vesting of currently outstanding restricted stock units held by Dr. Itri, 90,975 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of Senior Convertible Promissory Notes due September 4, 2011, as amended (the Notes) held by Dr. Itri's IRA and 9,098 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of December 2010 Warrants held by Dr. Itri's IRA.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 119,632 shares of common stock potentially issuable upon the vesting of currently outstanding restricted stock units held by Dr. Warrell, 10,590,399 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of Notes held in joint account with Dr. Warrell, 60,650 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of Notes held by Dr. Warrell's IRA, 8,612,823 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of March 2010 Warrants held in joint account with Dr. Warrell, 1,125,019 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of December 2010 Warrants held in joint account with Dr. Warrell and 6,065 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of December 2010 Warrants held by Dr. Warrell's IRA.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Loretta M. Itri</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
