Androgen Receptor Splice Variant 7 (AR-v7)

Androgen receptor splice variant 7 (AR-v7) is a splice variant of the androgen receptor (AR) that lacks the C-terminal ligand-binding domain (LBD). AR-v7 is constitutively active and drives gene transcription independently of ligand binding. It is frequently detected in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and associated with resistance to therapies targeting the androgen receptor pathway, particularly those inhibiting the LBD such as enzalutamide and abiraterone. Detection of AR-V7 is important for guiding therapy selection in metastatic CRPC.

AR-v7 is constitutively active and drives transcription independently of ligand binding, bypassing the mechanism of action of drugs targeting the ligand-binding domain of the full-length androgen receptor.