This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating
retinoblastoma (RB1)
gene expression using short interfering
nucleic acid (siNA) molecules. This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of other genes involved in pathways of
retinoblastoma gene expression and / or activity by
RNA interference (RNAi) using small
nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the instant invention features small
nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering
RNA (siRNA), double-stranded
RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules and methods used to modulate the expression of
retinoblastoma genes. Such small nucleic acid molecules are useful, for example, for treating, preventing, inhibiting, or reducing
hearing loss, deafness,
tinnitus, motion and
balance disorders,
cancer and proliferative diseases and any other
disease, condition, trait or indication that can respond to the level of retinoblastoma in a
cell or tissue, alone or in combination with other treatments or therapies.