Functional activation and overexpression of the components of the activin/nodal signaling pathway including Nodal, Cripto-1, FoxH1, Smad2, Smad4, Gdf1, activin, and ACVR1B were detected in primary pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSC) [133]. The gene discussed is ACVR1B; the disease is familial pancreatic carcinoma.