AR and PSMA testing: what it means for you

Waiting on test results can feel like one more hard thing, for you and the people who love you. Here's what the AR and PSMA test looks for and how it can help your care team pick the treatment most likely to work for you.

ℹ️ General information to help you and your loved ones talk with your care team, not medical advice. Read our disclaimer.

Matters most in: Prostate cancer

The quick guide

What the test looks for: AR is the androgen receptor, which lets testosterone fuel prostate cancer; some tests look for AR changes such as AR-V7. PSMA is a protein on most prostate cancer cells, seen on a special PET scan (PSMA PET).

Why it matters

Most prostate cancer depends on AR, which is why hormone therapy and AR blockers work. A PSMA PET scan can find small spots of cancer, and if the cancer shows PSMA, a radioactive drug that targets PSMA may be an option for advanced disease.

Treatments it can point to

AR pathway drugs such as Xtandi (enzalutamide), apalutamide, darolutamide or abiraterone (Xtandi (enzalutamide))
PSMA-targeted radioligand therapy (lutetium-177 vipivotide tetraxetan, Pluvicto) for PSMA-positive advanced cancer
Chemo such as docetaxel (Taxotere (docetaxel))

Only your care team can say which treatment fits you. Drug approvals depend on cancer type, stage and prior treatment.

Tissue vs. blood testing

PSMA is checked with a PET scan, not a biopsy. AR changes can be tested in blood or tissue.

Most tests use a piece of tumor tissue from a biopsy or surgery. Some can also use a blood sample (a 'liquid biopsy') that looks for tumor DNA floating in the blood. Blood tests are easier and faster, but they can miss a change that a tissue test would find, so a negative blood test is often followed by a tissue test.

❓ Questions you and your loved ones can ask

Would a PSMA PET scan help me?
Am I a candidate for PSMA-targeted therapy?
When will my results be back, and will treatment wait for them?
Will my insurance cover this test?

Written by the Cancer Side Effects Guide team from FDA labels and leading cancer centers. Not medical advice. · Last updated: October 15, 2026 · How we write

Not medical advice. This page is general information to help you talk with your care team. It can't replace advice from your doctor or nurse. If you have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher during treatment, or any symptom that worries you, call your care team now. In an emergency, call 911.