Cripto-null mice lack a primitive streak and fail to form mesoderm [113], a phenotype shared by mice lacking Acvr1b, Acvr2a, Acvr2b, or Nodal. CRIPTO is overexpressed in breast, ovarian, gastric, lung, and pancreatic carcinomas [114]. Here, CRIPTO is linked to exocrine pancreatic carcinoma.