TGFBR1 and exocrine pancreatic carcinoma: Activin-like kinase 5 (ALK-5), also known as TGF-beta type I receptor (TGFβRI), is a transmembrane receptor involved in the development of various types of malignancies, such as pancreatic carcinoma, cervical cancer, and liver hepatoma [1,2,3,4,5].