Dr. Issam Sam Makhoul, MD

Clinical Trials

• Pembrolizumab in Treating Patients With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
• Vaccination of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Patients
• Gut Microbiome & Gastrointestinal Toxicities as Determinants of Response to Neoadjuvant Chemo for Advanced Breast Cancer
• Doxorubicin Hydrochloride and Cyclophosphamide Followed by Paclitaxel With or Without Carboplatin in Treating Patients With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
• Cisplatin, Nab-Paclitaxel, and Cetuximab (CACTUX) in Patients With Incurable Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• S1207 Hormone Therapy With or Without Everolimus in Treating Patients With Breast Cancer
• Solifenacin Compared to Clonidine for Reducing Hot Flashes Among Breast Cancer Patients
• Dabrafenib and Trametinib Followed by Ipilimumab and Nivolumab or Ipilimumab and Nivolumab Followed by Dabrafenib and Trametinib in Treating Patients With Stage III-IV BRAFV600 Melanoma

Media Releases

Get to know Oncologist Dr. Issam Sam Makhoul, who serves patients in Little Rock, Arkansas.

A highly trained oncologist, Dr. Makhoul is the Medical Director of Clinical Research at the CARTI Cancer Center in Little Rock.

CARTI is proud to have assembled a team of the most renowned cancer specialists in the country. The CARTI Cancer Center in Little Rock offers a comprehensive array of services, all staffed by a team of friendly, knowledgeable professionals. Their mission is to make trusted cancer care accessible for every patient they serve through compassion, innovation and purpose.

Beginning his professional pursuits by earning his medical degree from the Tishreen University Faculty of Medicine in Syria in 1980, Dr. Makhoul went on to further his training with a residency in intensive care and emergency medicine at the General Hospital of Chartres in France. Upon relocating to the United States, he completed residencies in family medicine and internal medicine at the Penn State Geisinger Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

An expert in his field, the doctor is board-certified in medical oncology, hematology, and internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). The ABIM is a physician-led, non-profit, independent evaluation organization driven by doctors who want to achieve higher standards for better care in a rapidly changing world.

Remaining up to date in his field, he is an active member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Hematology, and the American Association for Cancer Research.

Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. A medical professional who practices oncology is an oncologist. An oncologist is a doctor who treats cancer and provides medical care for a person diagnosed with cancer. They lead a cancer treatment team of various healthcare professionals, treat patients with radiation therapy, coordinate treatment plans and prescribe various types of treatment, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy, as well as assist patients with pain management.

As a testament to his success, Dr. Makhoul has been the recipient of the Newsweek Top Doctor Award (2015), Castle Connolly America’s Top Doctor Award (2016-2021), and Castle Connolly America’s Top Doctor for Cancer Award (2016-2021).

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