Androgen receptor protein that is comprised of the amino acids encoded by exons 1-3 and those encoded by cryptic exon 3 (CE3) of the human AR gene. This variant protein contains nuclear receptor transcriptional activation and DNA binding domains and is missing the hinge region and the nuclear receptor ligand binding and activation function-2 domains. Expression of this variant is associated with both a constitutively active, gain-of-function phenotype and prostate cancer. [ ]