RNA interference mediated inhibition of catenin (cadherin-associated protein), beta 1 (CTNNB1) gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid (siNA)

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 15/224,822, filed on Aug. 1, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,850,491, issued on Dec. 26, 2017, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 14/339,067, filed on Jul. 23, 2014, now, U.S. Pat. No. 9,447,420, issued on Sep. 20, 2016, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/937,412, filed Aug. 6, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,835,623, issued on Sep. 16, 2014, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/813,465, filed on Jan. 31, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,518,907, issued Aug. 27, 2013, which is a 35 U.S. C. § 371 National Stage Filing of International Application No. PCT/US2011/046178, filed Aug. 2, 2011, which claims the benefit of and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/370,064, filed on Aug. 2, 2010. The entire contents of each of the foregoing patents and patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.

The sequence listing submitted via EFS, in compliance with 37 CFR § 1.52(e)(5), is incorporated herein by reference. The sequence listing tect file submitted via EFS contains the file “Sequence_Listing_121301_01706.txt”, created on Jul. 26, 2017, which is 2,174,000 bytes in size.

Beta catenin (also known as cadherin-associated protein and β-catenin), is a member of the catenin family of cytosolic proteins. β-catenin is encoded by the CTNNB1 gene.

β-catenin is a pivotal player in the Wnt/Wg signaling pathway, mediators of several developmental processes. In the absence of Wnt, glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3β), a serine/threonine protein kinase constitutively phosphorylates the β-catenin protein. When Wnt is present and binds to any of the family members of the frizzled receptors (Fz), an intracellular signaling protein known as dishevelled (Dsh) is recruited to the membrane and phosphorylated. GSK-3β is inhibited by the activation of Dsh. As a result, β-catenin levels increase in the cytosol and are translocated into the nucleus to perform a variety of functions. β-catenin acts together with the transcription factors TCF and LEF to activate specific target genes involved in different processes.

β-catenin undergoes phosphorylation upon growth factor stimulation resulting in reduced cell adhesion, thereby functioning as a component of adherin junctions which are multiprotein complexes that mediate cell adhesion, cell-cell communication and cytoskeletal anchoring. (Willert et al., 1998, Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev. 8:95-102).

Thompson et al. suggest that β-catenin plays an important role in various aspects of liver biology including liver development (both embryonic and postnatal), liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced hepatomegaly, liver zonation, and pathogenesis of liver cancer. (Thompson M D., 2007, Hepatology May; 45(5):1298-305).

Wang et al. (2008) have shown that β-catenin can function as an oncogene. (Wang et al., 2008, Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev. 17 (8):2101-8). In patients with basal cell carcinoma an increased level in β-catenin is present and leads to the increase in proliferation of related tumors. Mutations in the β-catenin gene are a cause of colorectal cancer (CRC), pilomatrixoma (PTR), medulloblastoma (MDB), hepatoblastoma, and ovarian cancer.

The role of β-catenin in the development of colorectal cancer has been shown to be regulated by the expression product of the APC (adenomatous polyposis of the colon) gene, a tumor suppressor. (Korinek et al., Science, 1997, 275:1784-1787; Morin et al., Science, 1997, 275:1787-1790). The APC protein normally binds β-catenin in conjunction with TCF/LEF forming a transcription factor complex. Morin et al. (Morin et al., Science, 1997, 275:1787-1790) report that APC protein down-regulates the transcriptional activation mediated by β-catenin and Tcf-4 in colon cancer. Their results indicate that the regulation of β-catenin is critical to APC's tumor suppressive effect and that this regulation can be circumvented by mutations in either APC or β-catenin.

Mutations in the β-catenin gene are either truncations that lead to deletion of part of the N-terminus of β-catenin, or point mutations that affect the serine and threonine residues that are targeted by GSK3α/β or CKIα. These mutant β-catenin proteins are refractory to phosphorylation and thus escape proteasomal degradations. Consequently, β-catenin accumulates within affected cells. Stabilized and nuclear-localized β-catenin is a hallmark of nearly all cases of colon cancer. (Clevers, H., 2006, Cell 127:469-480). Morin et al. demonstrated that mutations of β-catenin that altered phosphorylation sites rendered the cells insensitive to APC-mediated down-regulation of β-catenin and that this disrupted mechanism was critical to colorectal tumorigenesis. (Morin et al., 1997, Science 275:1787-1790).

Other studies also report on the detection of mutations in β-catenin in various cancer cell lines (see e.g., Chan et al., 1999, Nature Genet. 21:410-413; Blaker et al., 1999, Genes Chromosomes Cancer 25:399-402; Sagae et al., 1999, Jpn. J. Cancer Res. 90:510-515; Wang et al., 2008, Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev. 17(8):2101-8). Additionally, abnormally high amounts of β-catenin have also been found in melanoma cell lines (see e.g. Rubinfeld et al., 1997, Science, 275:1790-1792).

Likewise other cancers, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), have also been associated with the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway. HCC is a complex and heterogeneous disease accounting for more than 660,000 new cases per year worldwide. Multiple reports have shown that Wnt signaling components are activated in human HCC patients. Activated Wnt signaling and nuclear beta-catenin correlate with recurrence of disease and poor prognosis (Takigawa et al. 2008, Curr Drug Targets November; 9(11):1013-24). Elevated nuclear beta-catenin staining has been documented in 17-66% of HCC patients (Zulehner et al. 2010, Am J Pathol. January; 176(1):472-81; Yu et al. 2009, J Hepatol. May; 50(5):948-57). Merck's internal dataset on ˜300 HCC patient tumors generated in collaboration with the Hong Kong University indicates Wnt signaling components are activated in 50% of HCC patients. External data have shown activating beta-catenin mutations in 13-40% of HCC patients, while inactivating Axin 1 or 2 mutations were present in ˜10% of HCC patients (Lee et al. 2006, Frontiers in Bioscience May 1:11:1901-1915).

Preclinical studies provide evidence that activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway is important in the generation and maintenance of HCC. Liver-targeted disruption of APC in mice activates beta-catenin signaling and leads to the formation of HCC (Colnot et al. 2004, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA . December 7; 101(49):17216-21). Although overexpression of a beta-catenin mutant lacking the GSK-3beta phosphorylation sites alone is not sufficient for hepatocarcinogenesis (Harada et al. 2002, Cancer Res . April 1; 62(7):1971-7.), overexpression of tumorigenic mutant beta-catenin has been shown to make mice susceptible to HCC induced by DEN (diethylnitrosamine), a known carcinogen (Nejak-Bowen et al. 2010, Hepatology 2010 May; 51(5):1603-13. Interestingly, 95% of HCC tumors initiated by overexpression of the human Met receptor in mice (Tre-Met transgenic mouse model) harbor beta-catenin activating mutations (Tward et al. 2007, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA . September 11; 104(37):14771-6). This finding reflects the human disease and suggests that the Wnt pathway cooperates with Met signaling during hepatocarcinogenesis. High rates of beta-catenin activating mutations are also found in other transgenic mouse models for HCC (16% beta-catenin mutations in FGF19, 55% in c-Myc and 41% in H-Ras transgenic mice) (Nicholes et al. 2002, Am J Pathol . June; 160(6):2295-307 de la Coste et al. 1998, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA . July 21; 95(15):8847-51).

Preclinical studies have also shown that beta-catenin is a valid target for HCC. Beta-catenin siRNAs inhibit proliferation and viability of human HCC cell lines (Zeng et al. 2007). Similarly, treatment of human HCC cell lines with an anti-Wnt-1 antibody or TCF4/beta-catenin antagonists induce apoptosis, reduction of c-Myc, cyclin D1 and survivin expression as well as suppress tumor growth in vivo (Wei et al. 2009, Mol Cancer September 24; 8:76; Wei et al. 2010, Int J Cancer . May 15; 126(10):2426-36.2010).

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and aggressive cancer for which effective therapies are lacking. The Wnt/beta-catenin pathway is activated in a high proportion of HCC cases (˜50%), frequently owing to mutations in beta-catenin (i.e. CTNNB1) or in the beta-catenin destruction complex (e.g. Axinl). Moreover, the Wnt pathway as a target has proven to be challenging and is currently undruggable by small molecule inhibitors, making beta-catenin an attractive target for an RNAi-based therapeutic approach (Llovet et al. 2008, Hepatology October: 48: 1312-1327).

Alteration of gene expression, specifically CTNNB1 gene expression, through RNA interference (hereinafter “RNAi”) is one approach for meeting this need. RNAi is induced by short single-stranded RNA (“ssRNA”) or double-stranded RNA (“dsRNA”) molecules. The short dsRNA molecules, called “short interfering nucleic acids (“siNA”)” or “short interfering RNA” or “siRNA” or “RNAi inhibitors” silence the expression of messenger RNAs (“mRNAs”) that share sequence homology to the siNA. This can occur via cleavage of the mRNA mediated by an endonuclease complex containing a siNA, commonly referred to as an RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). Cleavage of the target RNA typically takes place in the middle of the region complementary to the guide sequence of the siNA duplex (Elbashir et al., 2001, Genes Dev., 15: 188). In addition, RNA interference can also involve small RNA (e.g., micro-RNA or miRNA) mediated gene silencing, presumably through cellular mechanisms that either inhibit translation or that regulate chromatin structure and thereby prevent transcription of target gene sequences (see for example Allshire, 2002, Science, 297:1818-1819; Volpe et al., 2002, Science, 297:1833-1837; Jenuwein, 2002, Science, 297:2215-2218; and Hall et al., 2002, Science, 297:2232-2237). Despite significant advances in the field of RNAi, there remains a need for agents that can inhibit CTNNB1 gene expression and that can treat disease associated with CTNNB1 expression such as cancer.

The invention provides a solution to the problem of treating diseases that respond to the modulation of the CTNNB1 gene expression using novel short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecules to modulate CTNNB1 expression.

The present invention provides compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression of CTNNB1 genes, specifically those CTNNB1 genes associated with cancer and for treating such conditions by RNA interference (RNAi) using small nucleic acid molecules.

In particular, the instant invention features small nucleic acid molecules, i.e., short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecules including, but not limited to, short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and circular RNA molecules and methods used to modulate the expression of CTNNB1 genes and/or other genes involved in pathways of CTNNB1 gene expression and/or activity.

In one aspect, the invention provides double-stranded short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecules that inhibit the expression of a CTNNB1 gene in a cell or mammal, wherein the double-stranded siNAs comprise a sense and an antisense stand. The antisense strand comprises a sequence that is complementary to at least a part of an RNA associated with the expression of the CTNNB1 gene. The sense strand comprises a sequence that is complementary to the antisense strand. In various embodiments, at least one strand comprises at least a 15 nucleotide sequence selected from the group of sequences consisting of SEQ ID NOS:1-6374. In certain embodiments, the antisense strand comprises at least 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 nucleotides having sequence complementarity to a target sequence set forth in Table 1a. In other and/or in the same embodiments, the antisense strand comprises at least a 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 nucleotide sequence of one of the antisense sequences set forth in Table 1b. In some embodiments, the sense strand comprises at least a 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 nucleotide sequence of a sense strand sequence as set forth in Table 1b.

In certain embodiments of this aspect of the invention, double-stranded short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecules are provided wherein the antisense stand comprises a modified sequence as set forth in Table 1c that has sequence complementarity to a target sequence of the invention. In some embodiments, the sense strand also comprises a modified sequence as set forth in Table 1c.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a double-stranded short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecule that modulates the expression of CTNNB1, wherein the siNA comprises a sense strand and an antisense strand; each strand is independently 15 to 30 nucleotides in length; and the antisense strand comprises at least 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 nucleotides having sequence complementary to any of:

In some embodiments of the invention, the antisense strand of a siNA molecule comprises at least a 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 nucleotide sequence of:

In some embodiments, the sense strand of a siNA molecule of the invention comprises at least a 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 nucleotide sequence of:

In some embodiments, a siNA molecule of the invention comprises any of:

In some embodiments, a siNA molecule of the invention comprises SEQ ID NOS: 6372 and 6374.

In some embodiments, a siNA molecule of the invention comprises SEQ ID NOS: 6370 and 6369.

In some embodiments, a siNA molecule of the invention comprises SEQ ID NOS: 2021 and 2068.

In some embodiments, a siNA molecule of the invention comprises SEQ ID NOS: 6372 and 6373.

In some embodiments, a siNA molecule of the invention comprises SEQ ID NOS: 2147 and 6368

In some embodiments, the invention features a composition comprising:

(a) a double-stranded short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) of the invention; (b) a cationic lipid compound having any of compound numbers 1-46 or any combination thereof; (c) cholesterol; (d) DSPC; and (e) PEG-DMG.

In some embodiments, the invention features a composition comprising:

(a) a double-stranded short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) of the invention; (b) (13Z,16Z)—N,N-dimethyl-3-nonyldocosa-13,16-dien-1-amine; (c) cholesterol; (d) DSPC; and (e) PEG-DMG.

In some embodiments, the invention features a composition comprising:

(a) a double-stranded short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) having SEQ ID NOS: 6372 and 6374; (b) (13Z,16Z)—N,N-dimethyl-3-nonyldocosa-13,16-dien-1-amine; (c) cholesterol; (d) DSPC; and (e) PEG-DMG.

In some embodiments, the invention features a composition comprising:

(a) a double-stranded short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) having SEQ ID NOS: 6370 and 6369; (b) (13Z,16Z)—N,N-dimethyl-3-nonyldocosa-13,16-dien-1-amine; (c) cholesterol; (d) DSPC; and (e) PEG-DMG.

In some embodiments, the invention features a composition comprising:

(a) a double-stranded short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) having SEQ ID NOS: 2021 and 2068; (b) (13Z,16Z)—N,N-dimethyl-3-nonyldocosa-13,16-dien-1-amine; (c) cholesterol; (d) DSPC; and (e) PEG-DMG.

In some embodiments, the invention features a composition comprising:

(a) a double-stranded short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) having SEQ ID NOS: 6372 and 6373; (b) (13Z,16Z)—N,N-dimethyl-3-nonyldocosa-13,16-dien-1-amine; (c) cholesterol; (d) DSPC; and (e) PEG-DMG.

In some embodiments, the invention features a composition comprising:

(a) a double-stranded short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) having SEQ ID NOS: 2147 and 6368; (b) (13Z,16Z)—N,N-dimethyl-3-nonyldocosa-13,16-dien-1-amine; (c) cholesterol; (d) DSPC; and (e) PEG-DMG.

In some embodiments, a composition of the invention comprises any Cationic Lipid having any of compound numbers 1-46 in the following molar ratios:

Cationic Lipid/Cholesterol/PEG-DMG 56.6/38/5.4;

Cationic Lipid/Cholesterol/PEG-DMG 60/38/2;

Cationic Lipid/Cholesterol/PEG-DMG 67.3/29/3.7;

Cationic Lipid/Cholesterol/PEG-DMG 49.3/47/3.7;

Cationic Lipid/Cholesterol/PEG-DMG 50.3/44.3/5.4;

Cationic Lipid/Cholesterol/PEG-C-DMA/DSPC 40/48/2/10;

Cationic Lipid/Cholesterol/PEG-DMG/DSPC 40/48/2/10; and

Cationic Lipid/Cholesterol/PEG-DMG/DSPC 58/30/2/10.

In some embodiments, a composition of the invention comprises (13Z,16Z)—N,N-dimethyl-3-nonyldocosa-13,16-dien-1-amine, cholesterol, DSPC, and PEG-DMG, having a molar ratio of 50:30:10:2 respectively.

In some embodiments, a composition of the invention further comprises a cryo-protectant. In some embodiments, the cryoprotectant is Sucrose, Trehalose, Raffinose, Stachyose, Verbascose, Mannitol, Glucose, Lactose, Maltose, Maltotriose-heptaose, Dextran, Hydroxyethyl Starch, Insulin, Sorbitol, Glycerol, Arginine, Histidine, Lysine, Proline, Dimethylsulfoxide or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the cryoprotectant is Sucrose. In some embodiments, the cryoprotectant is Trehalose. In some embodiments, the cryoprotectant is a combination of Sucrose and Trehalose.

In some embodiments of the invention, all of the nucleotides of siNAs of the invention are unmodified. In other embodiments, one or more (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30) of the nucleotide positions independently in either one or both strands of an siNA molecule are modified. Modifications include nucleic acid sugar modifications, base modifications, backbone (internucleotide linkage) modifications, non-nucleotide modifications, and/or any combination thereof. In certain instances, purine and pyrimidine nucleotides are differentially modified. For example, purine and pyrimidine nucleotides can be differentially modified at the 2′-sugar position (i.e., at least one purine has a different modification from at least one pyrimidine in the same or different strand at the 2′-sugar position). In certain instances the purines are unmodified in one or both strands, while the pyrimidines in one or both strands are modified. In certain other instances, the pyrimidines are unmodified in one or both strands, while the purines in one or both strands are modified. In some instances, at least one modified nucleotide is a 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro nucleotide, a 2′-deoxy nucleotide, or a 2′-O-alkyl nucleotide. In some instances, at least 5 or more of the pyrimidine nucleotides in one or both stands are either all 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro or all 2′-O-methyl pyrimidine nucleotides. In some instances, at least 5 or more of the purine nucleotides in one or both stands are either all 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro or all 2′-O-methyl purine nucleotides. In certain instances, wherein the siNA molecules comprise one or more modifications as described herein, the nucleotides at positions 1, 2, and 3 at the 5′ end of the guide (antisense) strand are unmodified.

In certain embodiments, the siNA molecules of the invention have 3′ overhangs of one, two, three, or four nucleotide(s) on one or both of the strands. In other embodiments, the siNA molecules lack overhangs (i.e., have blunt ends). Preferably, the siNA molecule has 3′ overhangs of two nucleotides on both the sense and antisense strands. The overhangs can be modified or unmodified. Examples of modified nucleotides in the overhangs include, but are not limited to, 2′-O-alkyl nucleotides, 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro nucleotides, locked nucleic acid (LNA) nucleotides, or 2′-deoxy nucleotides. The overhang nucleotides in the antisense strand can comprise nucleotides that are complementary to nucleotides in the CTNNB1 target sequence. Likewise, the overhangs in the sense stand can comprise nucleotides that are in the CTNNB1 target sequence. In certain instances, the siNA molecules of the invention have two 3′ overhang nucleotides on the antisense stand that are 2′-O-alkyl (e.g., 2′-O-methyl) nucleotides and two 3′ overhang nucleotides on the sense stand that are 2′-deoxy nucleotides. In other instances, the siNA molecules of the invention have two 3′ overhang nucleotides that are 2′-O-alkyl (e.g., 2′-O-methyl) nucleotides on both the antisense stand and on the sense stand. In certain embodiments, the 2′-O-alkyl nucleotides are 2′-O-methyl uridine nucleotides. In certain instances, the overhangs also comprise one or more phosphorothioate linkages between nucleotides of the overhang.

In some embodiments, the siNA molecules of the invention have caps (also referred to herein as “terminal caps.” The cap can be present at the 5′-terminus (5′-cap) or at the 3′-terminus (3′-cap) or can be present on both termini, such as at the 5′ and 3′ termini of the sense strand of the siNA.

In some embodiments, the siNA molecules of the invention are phosphorylated at the 5′ end of the antisense strand. The phosphate group can be a phosphate, a diphosphate or a triphosphate.

The siNA molecules of the invention when double stranded can be symmetric or asymmetric. Each strand of these double stranded siNAs independently can range in nucleotide length between 3 and 30 nucleotides. Generally, each strand of the siNA molecules of the invention is about 15 to 30 (i.e., about 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 or 24) nucleotides in length.

The siNA molecules of the invention, which are double stranded or have a duplex structure, independently comprise about 3 to about 30 (e.g., about 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30) base pairs. Generally, the duplex structure of siNAs of the invention is between 15 and 30, more generally between 18 and 25, yet more generally between 19 and 24, and most generally between 19 and 21 base pairs in length.

In certain embodiments, double-stranded short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecules are provided, wherein the molecule has a sense strand and an antisense strand and comprises formula (A):

wherein, the upper strand is the sense strand and the lower strand is the antisense strand of the double-stranded nucleic acid molecule; wherein the antisense strand comprises at least a 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4918, SEQ ID NO: 5107, SEQ ID NO: 5109, or SEQ ID NO: 5064, and the sense strand comprises a sequence having complementarity to the antisense strand;

each N is independently a nucleotide which is unmodified or chemically modified or a non-nucleotide;

each B is a terminal cap that is present or absent;

(N) represents overhanging nucleotides, each of which is independently unmodified or chemically modified;

[N] represents nucleotides that are ribonucleotides;

X1 and X2 are independently integers from 0 to 4;

X3 is an integer from 15 to 30;

X4 is an integer from 9 to 30; and

X5 is an integer from 0 to 6, provided that the sum of X4 and X5 is 15-30.

In one embodiment, the invention features a double-stranded short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) of formula (A); wherein

(a) one or more pyrimidine nucleotides in N X4 positions are independently 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro nucleotides, 2′-O-alkyl nucleotides, 2′-deoxy nucleotides, ribonucleotides, or any combination thereof; (b) one or more purine nucleotides in N X4 positions are independently 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro nucleotides, 2′-O-alkyl nucleotides, 2′-deoxy nucleotides, ribonucleotides, or any combination thereof; (c) one or more pyrimidine nucleotides in N X3 positions are independently 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro nucleotides, 2′-O-alkyl nucleotides, 2′-deoxy nucleotides, ribonucleotides, or any combination thereof; and (d) one or more purine nucleotides in N X3 positions are independently 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro nucleotides, 2′-O-alkyl nucleotides, 2′-deoxy nucleotides, ribonucleotides,

The present invention further provides compositions comprising the double-stranded nucleic acid molecules described herein with optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

The administration of the composition can be carried out by known methods, wherein the nucleic acid is introduced into a desired target cell in vitro or in vivo.

Commonly used techniques for introduction of the nucleic acid molecules of the invention into cells, tissues, and organisms include the use of various carrier systems, reagents and vectors. Non-limiting examples of such carrier systems suitable for use in the present invention include conjugates, nucleic-acid-lipid particles, lipid nanoparticles (LNP), liposomes, lipoplexes, micelles, virosomes, virus like particles (VLP), nucleic acid complexes, and mixtures thereof.

The compositions of the invention can be in the form of an aerosol, dispersion, solution (e.g., an injectable solution), a cream, ointment, tablet, powder, suspension or the like. These compositions may be administered in any suitable way, e.g. orally, sublingually, buccally, parenterally, nasally, or topically. In some embodiments, the compositions are aerosolized and delivered via inhalation.

The molecules and compositions of the present invention have utility over a broad range of therapeutic applications. Accordingly another aspect of this invention relates to the use of the compounds and compositions of the invention in treating a subject. The invention thus provides a method for treating a subject, such as a human, suffering from a condition which is mediated by the action, or by the loss of action, of CTNNB1, wherein the method comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of a double-stranded short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecule of the invention. In certain embodiments, the condition is cancer.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent upon reference to the following detailed description and attached figures. Moreover, it is contemplated that any method or composition described herein can be implemented with respect to any other method or composition described herein and that different embodiments may be combined.

Additionally, patents, patent applications, and other documents are cited throughout the specification to describe and more specifically set forth various aspects of this invention. Each of these references cited herein is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, including the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a non-limiting proposed mechanistic representation of target RNA degradation involved in RNAi. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), which is generated by RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) from foreign single-stranded RNA, for example viral, transposon, or other exogenous RNA, activates the DICER enzyme that in turn generates siNA duplexes. Alternately, synthetic or expressed siNA can be introduced directly into a cell by appropriate means. An active siNA complex forms that recognizes a target RNA, resulting in degradation of the target RNA by the RISC endonuclease complex or in the synthesis of additional RNA by RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP), which can activate DICER and result in additional siNA molecules, thereby amplifying the RNAi response.

FIG. 2 shows non-limiting examples of chemically modified siNA constructs of the present invention using a generalized structure of a representative siNA duplex. The specific modifications shown in the figure can be utilized alone or in combination with other modifications of the figure, in addition to other modifications and features described herein with reference to any siNA molecule of the invention. In the figure, N stands for any nucleotide or optionally a non-nucleotide as described here. The upper strand, having B-N X3 -(N) X2 -B-3′ is the sense (or passenger) strand of the siNA, whereas the lower strand, having B(N) X1 -N x4 -[N] X5 -5′ is the antisense (or guide) strand of the siNA. Nucleotides (or optional non-nucleotides) of internal portions of the sense strand are designated N X3 and nucleotides (or optional non-nucleotides) of internal portions of the antisense strand are designated N X4 . Nucleotides (or optional non-nucleotides) of the internal portions are generally base paired between the two strands, but can optionally lack base pairing (e.g. have mismatches or gaps) in some embodiments. Nucleotides (or optional non-nucleotides) of overhang regions are designated by parenthesis (N). Nucleotides of the 5′-terminal portion of the antisense strand are designated [N]. Terminal caps are optionally present at the 5′ and/or 3′ end of the sense strand and further optionally present at the 3′-end of the antisense strand. Generally, each strand can independently range from about 15 to about 30 nucleotides in length, but can vary depending on the presence of any overhang nucleotides. In certain embodiments, X1 and X2 are independently integers from 0 to 4; X3 is an integer from 15 to 30; X4 is an integer from 9 to 30; X5 is an integer from 0 to 6, provided that the sum of X4 and X5 is 15-30. Various modifications are shown for the nucleotides of the sense and antisense strands of the siNA constructs. The (N) overhang nucleotide positions can be chemically modified as described herein (e.g., 2′-O-methyl, 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro, 2′-deoxy, LNA, universal bases etc.) and can be either derived from a corresponding target nucleic acid sequence or not. The constructs shown in the figure can also comprise phosphorothioate linkages as described herein. For example, phosphorothioate linkages can exist between any N, (N), and/or [N] positions. Such phosphorothioate incorporation can be utilized between purine “R” and pyrimidine “Y” positions, or for stabilization of pyrimidine linkages in general. Furthermore, although not depicted on the Figure, the constructs shown in the figure can optionally include a ribonucleotide at the 9 th position from the 5′-end of the sense strand or the 11 th position based on the 5′-end of the guide strand by counting 11 nucleotide positions in from the 5′-terminus of the guide strand. Similarly, the antisense strand can include a ribonucleotide at the 14 th position from the 5′-end, or alternately can be selected or designed so that a 2′-O-alkyl nucleotide (e.g., a 2′-O-methyl purine) is not present at this position. Furthermore, although not shown in the Figure, the 5′-terminal position of the antisense strand can comprise a terminal phosphate group as described herein. The antisense strand generally comprises sequence complementary to any target nucleic acid sequence of the invention, such as those set forth in Table 1a herein.

FIG. 3 shows non-limiting examples of certain combinations of modifications applied to the representative siNA duplex described in FIG. 2 . The table shown below the representative structure provides specific combinations of (N) X1 , (N) X2 , N X3 , N X4 , and/or [N] X5 nucleotide (and optional non-nucleotide) positions. For example, combinations of 5 or more (e.g., 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 or more) N X3 and 5 or more (e.g., 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 or more) N X4 pyrimidine “Y” and purine “R” nucleotides are specified, each of which can independently have specific (N) X1 , and/or (N) X2 , substitutions as shown in the figure, in addition to optional phosphorothioate substitutions. The 5′-terminal antisense strand [N] nucleotides are generally ribonucleotides, but can also be modified or unmodified depending on if they are purine “R” or pyrimidine “Y” nucleotides

FIGS. 4A-C shows non-limiting examples of different siNA constructs of the invention. The criteria of the representative structures shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 can be applied to any of the structures shown in FIGS. 4A-C .

The examples shown in FIG. 4A (constructs 1, 2, and 3) have 19 representative base pairs; however, different embodiments of the invention include any number of base pairs described herein. Bracketed regions represent nucleotide overhangs, for example, comprising about 1, 2, 3, or 4 nucleotides in length, preferably about 2 nucleotides. Constructs 1 and 2 can be used independently for RNAi activity. Construct 2 can comprise a polynucleotide or non-nucleotide linker, which can optionally be designed as a biodegradable linker. In one embodiment, the loop structure shown in construct 2 can comprise a biodegradable linker that results in the formation of construct 1 in vivo and/or in vitro. In another example, construct 3 can be used to generate construct 2 under the same principle wherein a linker is used to generate the active siNA construct 2 in vivo and/or in vitro, which can optionally utilize another biodegradable linker to generate the active siNA construct 1 in vivo and/or in vitro. As such, the stability and/or activity of the siNA constructs can be modulated based on the design of the siNA construct for use in vivo or in vitro and/or in vitro.

The examples shown in FIG. 4B represent different variations of double-stranded nucleic acid molecule of the invention, such as microRNA, that can include overhangs, bulges, loops, and stem-loops resulting from partial complementarity. Such motifs having bulges, loops, and stem-loops are generally characteristics of miRNA. The bulges, loops, and stem-loops can result from any degree of partial complementarity, such as mismatches or bulges of about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more nucleotides in one or both strands of the double-stranded nucleic acid molecule of the invention.

The example shown in FIG. 4C represents a model double-stranded nucleic acid molecule of the invention comprising a 19 base pair duplex of two 21 nucleotide sequences having dinucleotide 3′-overhangs. The top strand (1) represents the sense strand (passenger strand), the middle strand (2) represents the antisense (guide strand), and the lower strand (3) represents a target polynucleotide sequence. The guide strand is complementary to the target sequence and the passenger strand is complementary to the guide strand. The dinucleotide overhangs (NN) can comprise a sequence derived from the target polynucleotide. For example, the 3′-(NN) sequence in the guide strand can be complementary to the 5′-[NN] sequence of the target polynucleotide. In addition, the 5′-(NN) sequence of the passenger strand can comprise the same sequence as the 5′-[NN] sequence of the target polynucleotide sequence. In other embodiments, the overhangs (NN) are not derived from the target polynucleotide sequence, for example where the 3′-(NN) sequence in the guide strand are not complementary to the 5′-[NN] sequence of the target polynucleotide and the 5′-(NN) sequence of the passenger strand can comprise different sequence from the 5′-[NN] sequence of the target polynucleotide sequence. In additional embodiments, any (NN) nucleotides are chemically modified, e.g., as 2′-O-methyl, 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro, and/or other modifications herein. Representative 2 nucleotide overhangs are shown, but can vary for example from 0 to about 4 nucleotides. Furthermore, the passenger strand can comprise a ribonucleotide position N of the passenger strand. For the representative 19 base pair 21 mer duplex shown, position N can be 9 nucleotides in from the 3′ end of the passenger strand. However, in duplexes of differing length, the position N is determined based on the 5′-end of the guide strand by counting 11 nucleotide positions in from the 5′-terminus of the guide strand and picking the corresponding base paired nucleotide in the passenger strand. Cleavage by Ago2 takes place between positions 10 and 11 as indicated by the arrow. In additional embodiments, there are two ribonucleotides, NN, at positions 10 and 11 based on the 5′-end of the guide strand by counting 10 and 11 nucleotide positions in from the 5′-terminus of the guide strand and picking the corresponding base paired nucleotides in the passenger strand. B=terminal cap which can be present or absent. This generalized motif can be applied to all Stab chemistries herein (see Table 6).

FIG. 5 shows non-limiting examples of different stabilization chemistries (1-10) that can be used, for example, to stabilize the 5′ and/or 3′-ends of siNA sequences of the invention, including (1) [3-3′]-inverted deoxyribose; (2) deoxyribonucleotide; (3) [5′-3′]-3′-deoxyribonucleotide; (4) [5′-3′]-ribonucleotide; (5) [5′-3′]-3′-O-methyl ribonucleotide; (6) 3′-glyceryl; (7) [3-5]-3′-deoxyribonucleotide; (8) [3′-3′]-deoxyribonucleotide; (9) [5′-2′]-deoxyribonucleotide; and (10) [5-3′]-dideoxyribonucleotide (when X═O). In addition to modified and unmodified backbone chemistries indicated in the figure, these chemistries can be combined with different sugar and base nucleotide modifications as described herein.

FIG. 6 shows a non-limiting example of a strategy used to identify chemically modified siNA constructs of the invention that are nuclease resistant while preserving the ability to mediate RNAi activity. Chemical modifications are introduced into the siNA construct based on educated design parameters (e.g. introducing 2′-modifications, base modifications, backbone modifications, terminal cap modifications etc). The modified construct is tested in an appropriate system (e.g., human serum for nuclease resistance, shown, or an animal model for PK/delivery parameters). In parallel, the siNA construct is tested for RNAi activity, for example in a cell culture system such as a luciferase reporter assay and/or against endogenous mRNA). Lead siNA constructs are then identified which possess a particular characteristic while maintaining RNAi activity, and can be further modified and assayed once again. This same approach can be used to identify siNA-conjugate molecules with improved pharmacokinetic profiles, delivery, and RNAi activity.

FIG. 7 shows non-limiting examples of phosphorylated siNA molecules of the invention, including linear and duplex constructs and asymmetric derivatives thereof.

FIG. 8 shows non-limiting examples of chemically modified terminal phosphate groups of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows a non-limiting example of a cholesterol linked phosphoramidite that can be used to synthesize cholesterol conjugated siNA molecules of the invention. An example is shown with the cholesterol moiety linked to the 5′-end of the sense strand of an siNA molecule.

FIG. 10 depicts an embodiment of 5′ and 3′ inverted abasic cap linked to a nucleic acid strand.

A. Terms and Definitions

The following terminology and definitions apply as used in the present application.

The term “abasic” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term generally refers to sugar moieties lacking a nucleobase or having a hydrogen atom (H) or other non-nucleobase chemical groups in place of a nucleobase at the 1′ position of the sugar moiety, see for example Adamic et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,203. In one embodiment, an abasic moiety of the invention is a ribose, deoxyribose, or dideoxyribose sugar.

The term “acyclic nucleotide” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term generally refers to any nucleotide having an acyclic ribose sugar, for example where any of the ribose carbon/carbon or carbon/oxygen bonds are independently or in combination absent from the nucleotide.

The term “alkyl” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term generally refers to a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbons, including straight-chain, branched-chain, alkenyl, alkynyl groups and cyclic groups, but excludes aromatic groups. Notwithstanding the foregoing, alkyl also refers to non-aromatic heterocyclic groups. Preferably, the alkyl group has 1 to 12 carbons. More preferably, it is a lower alkyl of from 1 to 7 carbons, more preferably 1 to 4 carbons. The alkyl group can be substituted or unsubstituted. When substituted, the substituted group(s) is preferably, hydroxyl, halogen, cyano, C1-C4 alkoxy, ═O, ═S, NO 2 , SH, NH 2 , or NR 1 R 2 , where R 1 and R 2 independently are H or C1-C4 alkyl.

The phrase “agents that interfere with cell cycle checkpoints” refers to compounds that inhibit protein kinases that transduce cell cycle checkpoint signals, thereby sensitizing the cancer cell to DNA damaging agents.

The phrase “agents that interfere with receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs)” refers to compounds that inhibit RTKs and therefore inhibit mechanisms involved in oncogenesis and tumor progression.

The phrase “androgen receptor modulators” refers to compounds that interfere or inhibit the binding of androgens to the receptor, regardless of mechanism.

The phrase “angiogenesis inhibitors” refers to compounds that inhibit the formation of new blood vessels, regardless of mechanism.

The term “aryl” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term generally refers to an aromatic group that has at least one ring having a conjugated pi electron system and includes carbocyclic aryl, heterocyclic aryl and biaryl groups, all of which can be optionally substituted. The preferred substituent(s) of aryl groups are halogen, trihalomethyl, hydroxyl, SH, OH, cyano, C1-C4 alkoxy, C1-C4 alkyl, C2-C4 alkenyl, C2-C4 alkynyl, NH 2 , and NR 1 R 2 groups, where R 1 and R 2 independently are H or C1-C4 alkyl.

The term “alkylaryl” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term generally refers to an alkyl group (as described above) covalently joined to an aryl group (as described above). Carbocyclic aryl groups are groups wherein the ring atoms on the aromatic ring are all carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are optionally substituted. Heterocyclic aryl groups are groups having from 1 to 3 heteroatoms as ring atoms in the aromatic ring and the remainder of the ring atoms are carbon atoms. Suitable heteroatoms include oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen, and examples of heterocyclic aryl groups having such heteroatoms include furanyl, thienyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, N-lower alkyl pyrrolo, pyrimidyl, pyrazinyl, imidazolyl and the like, all optionally substituted. Preferably, the alkyl group is a C1-C4 alkyl group.

The term “amide” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term generally refers to an —C(O)—NH—R, where R is either alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl or hydrogen.

The phrase “antisense region” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. With reference to exemplary nucleic acid molecules of the invention, the term refers to a nucleotide sequence of an siNA molecule having complementarity to a target nucleic acid sequence. In addition, the antisense region of an siNA molecule can optionally comprise a nucleic acid sequence having complementarity to a sense region of the siNA molecule. In one embodiment, the antisense region of the siNA molecule is referred to as the antisense strand or guide strand.

The phrase “asymmetric hairpin” refers to a linear siNA molecule comprising an antisense region, a loop portion that can comprise nucleotides or non-nucleotides, and a sense region that comprises fewer nucleotides than the antisense region to the extent that the sense region has enough complementary nucleotides to base pair with the antisense region and form a duplex with loop. For example, an asymmetric hairpin siNA molecule of the invention can comprise an antisense region having length sufficient to mediate RNAi in a cell or in vitro system (e.g. about 15 to about 30, or about 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 nucleotides) and a loop region comprising about 4 to about 12 (e.g., about 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12) nucleotides, and a sense region having about 3 to about 25 (e.g., about 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25) nucleotides that are complementary to the antisense region. The asymmetric hairpin siNA molecule can also comprise a 5′-terminal phosphate group that can be chemically modified. The loop portion of the asymmetric hairpin siNA molecule can comprise nucleotides, non-nucleotides, linker molecules, or conjugate molecules as described herein.

The term “biodegradable” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term generally refers to degradation in a biological system, for example, enzymatic degradation or chemical degradation.

The term-“biodegradable linker” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. With reference to exemplary nucleic acid molecules of the invention, the term refers to a linker molecule that is designed to connect one molecule to another molecule, and which is susceptible to degradation in a biological system. The linker can be a nucleic acid or non-nucleic acid based linker. For example, a biodegradable linker can be used to attach a ligand or biologically active molecule to an siNA molecule of the invention. Alternately, a biodegradable linker can be used to connect the sense and antisense strands of an siNA molecule of the invention. The biodegradable linker is designed such that its stability can be modulated for a particular purpose, such as delivery to a particular tissue or cell type. The stability of a nucleic acid-based biodegradable linker molecule can be modulated by using various chemistries, for example combinations of ribonucleotides, deoxyribonucleotides, and chemically modified nucleotides, such as 2′-O-methyl, 2′-fluoro, 2′-amino, 2′-O-amino, 2′-C-allyl, 2′-O-allyl, and other 2′-modified or base modified nucleotides. The biodegradable nucleic acid linker molecule can be a dimer, trimer, tetramer or longer nucleic acid molecule, for example, an oligonucleotide of about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 nucleotides in length, or can comprise a single nucleotide with a phosphorus-based linkage, for example, a phosphoramidate or phosphodiester linkage. The biodegradable nucleic acid linker molecule can also comprise nucleic acid backbone, nucleic acid sugar, or nucleic acid base modifications.

The phrase “biologically active molecule” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. With reference to exemplary nucleic acid molecules of the invention, the term refers to compounds or molecules that are capable of eliciting or modifying a biological response in a system and/or are capable of modulating the pharmacokinetics and/or pharmacodynamics of other biologically active molecules. Examples of biologically active molecules, include siNA molecules alone or in combination with other molecules including, but not limited to therapeutically active molecules such as antibodies, cholesterol, hormones, antivirals, peptides, proteins, chemotherapeutics, small molecules, vitamins, co-factors, nucleosides, nucleotides, oligonucleotides, enzymatic nucleic acids, antisense nucleic acids, triplex forming oligonucleotides, polyamines, polyamides, polyethylene glycol, other polyethers, 2-5A chimeras, siNA, dsRNA, allozymes, aptamers, decoys and analogs thereof.

The phrase “biological system” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term generally refers to material, in a purified or unpurified form, from biological sources including, but not limited to, human or animal, wherein the system comprises the components required for RNAi activity. Thus, the phrase includes, for example, a cell, tissue, subject, or organism, or extract thereof. The term also includes reconstituted material from a biological source.

The phrase “blunt end” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. With reference to exemplary nucleic acid molecules of the invention, the term refers to termini of a double-stranded siNA molecule having no overhanging nucleotides. For example, the two strands of a double-stranded siNA molecule having blunt ends align with each other with matched base-pairs without overhanging nucleotides at the termini. A siNA duplex molecule of the invention can comprise blunt ends at one or both termini of the duplex, such as termini located at the 5′-end of the antisense strand, the 5′-end of the sense strand, or both termini of the duplex.

The term “cap” also referred to herein as “terminal cap,” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. With reference to exemplary nucleic acid molecules of the invention, the term refers to a moiety, which can be a chemically modified nucleotide or non-nucleotide that can be incorporated at one or more termini of one or more nucleic acid molecules of the invention. These terminal modifications protect the nucleic acid molecule from exonuclease degradation, and can help in delivery and/or localization within a cell. The cap can be present at the 5′-terminus (5′-cap) or at the 3′-terminal (3′-cap) or can be present on both termini of any nucleic acid molecule of the invention. A cap can be present at the 5′-end, 3-end and/or 5′ and 3′-ends of the sense strand of a nucleic acid molecule of the invention. Additionally, a cap can optionally be present at the 3′-end of the antisense strand of a nucleic acid molecule of the invention. In non-limiting examples, the 5′-cap includes, but is not limited to, LNA; glyceryl; inverted deoxy abasic residue (moiety); 4′,5′-methylene nucleotide; 1-(beta-D-erythrofuranosyl) nucleotide, 4′-thio nucleotide; carbocyclic nucleotide; 1,5-anhydrohexitol nucleotide; L-nucleotides; alpha-nucleotides; modified base nucleotide; phosphorodithioate linkage; threo-pentofuranosyl nucleotide; acyclic 3′,4′-seco nucleotide; acyclic 3,4-dihydroxybutyl nucleotide; acyclic 3,5-dihydroxypentyl nucleotide; 3′-3′-inverted nucleotide moiety; 3′-3′-inverted abasic moiety; 3′-2′-inverted nucleotide moiety; 3′-2′-inverted abasic moiety; 1,4-butanediol phosphate; 3′-phosphoramidate; hexylphosphate; aminohexyl phosphate; 3′-phosphate; 3′-phosphorothioate; phosphorodithioate; or bridging or non-bridging methylphosphonate moiety. Non-limiting examples of the 3′-cap include, but are not limited to, LNA; glyceryl; inverted deoxy abasic residue (moiety); 4′, 5′-methylene nucleotide; 1-(beta-D-erythrofuranosyl) nucleotide; 4′-thio nucleotide; carbocyclic nucleotide; 5′-amino-alkyl phosphate; 1,3-diamino-2-propyl phosphate; 3-aminopropyl phosphate; 6-aminohexyl phosphate; 1,2-aminododecyl phosphate; hydroxypropyl phosphate; 1,5-anhydrohexitol nucleotide; L-nucleotide; alpha-nucleotide; modified base nucleotide; phosphorodithioate; threo-pentofuranosyl nucleotide; acyclic 3′,4′-seco nucleotide; 3,4-dihydroxybutyl nucleotide; 3,5-dihydroxypentyl nucleotide, 5′-5′-inverted nucleotide moiety; 5′-5′-inverted abasic moiety; 5′-phosphoramidate; 5′-phosphorothioate; 1,4-butanediol phosphate; 5′-amino; bridging and/or non-bridging 5′-phosphoramidate; phosphorothioate and/or phosphorodithioate; bridging or non bridging methylphosphonate; and 5′-mercapto moieties (for more details see Beaucage and Iyer, 1993, Tetrahedron 49, 1925; incorporated by reference herein). FIG. 5 shows some non-limiting examples of various caps.

The term “cell” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. With reference to exemplary nucleic acid molecules of the invention, the term is used in its usual biological sense, and does not refer to an entire multicellular organism, e.g., specifically does not refer to a human being. The cell can be present in an organism, e.g., birds, plants and mammals, such as humans, cows, sheep, apes, monkeys, swine, dogs, and cats. The cell can be prokaryotic (e.g., bacterial cell) or eukaryotic (e.g., mammalian or plant cell). The cell can be of somatic or germ line origin, totipotent or pluripotent, dividing or non-dividing. The cell can also be derived from or can comprise a gamete or embryo, a stem cell, or a fully differentiated cell.

The phrase “chemical modification” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. With reference to exemplary nucleic acid molecules of the invention, the term refers to any modification of the chemical structure of the nucleotides that differs from nucleotides of native siRNA or RNA in general. The term “chemical modification” encompasses the addition, substitution, or modification of native siRNA or RNA at the sugar, base, or internucleotide linkage, as described herein or as is otherwise known in the art. In certain embodiments, the term “chemical modification” can refer to certain forms of RNA that are naturally occurring in certain biological systems, for example 2′-O-methyl modifications or inosine modifications.

The term “CTNNB1” refers to catenin (cadherin-associated protein), beta 1 which is gene that encodes CTNNB1 proteins, CTNNB1 peptides, CTNNB1 polypeptides, CTNNB1 regulatory polynucleotides (e.g., CTNNB1 miRNAs and siNAs), mutant CTNNB1 genes, and splice variants of a CTNNB1 genes, as well as other genes involved in CTNNB1 pathways of gene expression and/or activity. Thus, each of the embodiments described herein with reference to the term “CTNNB1” are applicable to all of the protein, peptide, polypeptide, and/or polynucleotide molecules covered by the term “CTNNB1”, as that term is defined herein. Comprehensively, such gene targets are also referred to herein generally as “target” sequences (including the target sequences listed in Table 1a).

The term “complementarity” or “complementary” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. With reference to exemplary nucleic acid molecules of the invention, the terms generally refer to the formation or existence of hydrogen bond(s) between one nucleic acid sequence and another nucleic acid sequence by either traditional Watson-Crick or other non-traditional types of bonding as described herein. In reference to the nucleic molecules of the present invention, the binding free energy for a nucleic acid molecule with its complementary sequence is sufficient to allow the relevant function of the nucleic acid to proceed, e.g., RNAi activity. Determination of binding free energies for nucleic acid molecules is well known in the art (see, e.g., Turner et al., 1987, CSH Symp. Quant. Biol. LII pp. 123-133; Frier et al., 1986, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 83:9373-9377; Turner et al., 1987, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 109:3783-3785). Perfect complementary means that all the contiguous residues of a nucleic acid sequence will hydrogen bond with the same number of contiguous residues in a second nucleic acid sequence. Partial complementarity can include various mismatches or non-based paired nucleotides (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more mismatches, non-nucleotide linkers, or non-based paired nucleotides) within the nucleic acid molecule, which can result in bulges, loops, or overhangs that result between the sense strand or sense region and the antisense strand or antisense region of the nucleic acid molecule or between the antisense strand or antisense region of the nucleic acid molecule and a corresponding target nucleic acid molecule. Such partial complementarity can be represented by a % complementarity that is determined by the number of non-base paired nucleotides, i.e., about 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% etc. depending on the total number of nucleotides involved. Such partial complementarity is permitted to the extent that the nucleic acid molecule (e.g., siNA) maintains its function, for example the ability to mediate sequence specific RNAi.

The terms “composition” or “formulation” as used herein refer to their generally accepted meaning in the art. These terms generally refer to a composition or formulation, such as in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent, in a form suitable for administration, e.g., systemic or local administration, into a cell or subject, including, for example, a human. Suitable forms, in part, depend upon the use or the route of entry, for example oral, transdermal, inhalation, or by injection. Such forms should not prevent the composition or formulation from reaching a target cell (i.e., a cell to which the negatively charged nucleic acid is desirable for delivery). For example, compositions injected into the blood stream should be soluble. Other factors are known in the art, and include considerations such as toxicity and forms that prevent the composition or formulation from exerting its effect. As used herein, pharmaceutical formulations include formulations for human and veterinary use. Non-limiting examples of agents suitable for formulation with the nucleic acid molecules of the instant invention include: Lipid Nanoparticles (see for example Semple et al., 2010, Nat Biotechnol ., February; 28 (2):172-6.); P-glycoprotein inhibitors (such as Pluronic P85); biodegradable polymers, such as poly (DL-lactide-coglycolide) microspheres for sustained release delivery (Emerich, D F et al, 1999, Cell Transplant, 8, 47-58); and loaded nanoparticles, such as those made of polybutylcyanoacrylate. Other non-limiting examples of delivery strategies for the nucleic acid molecules of the instant invention include material described in Boado et al., 1998, J. Pharm. Sci., 87, 1308-1315; Tyler et al., 1999, FEBS Lett., 421, 280-284; Pardridge et al., 1995, PNAS USA., 92, 5592-5596; Boado, 1995, Adv. Drug Delivery Rev., 15, 73-107; Aldrian-Herrada et al., 1998, Nucleic Acids Res., 26, 4910-4916; and Tyler et al., 1999, PNAS USA., 96, 7053-7058. A “pharmaceutically acceptable composition” or “pharmaceutically acceptable formulation” can refer to a composition or formulation that allows for the effective distribution of the nucleic acid molecules of the instant invention to the physical location most suitable for their desired activity.

The phrase “cytotoxic/cytostatic agents” refer to compounds that cause cell death or inhibit cell proliferation primarily by interfering directly with the cell's functioning or inhibit or interfere with cell mytosis, including alkylating agents, tumor necrosis factors, intercalators, hypoxia activatable compounds, microtubule inhibitors/microtubule-stabilizing agents, inhibitors of mitotic kinesins, inhibitors of histone deacctylase, inhibitors of kinases involved in mitotic progression, antimetabolites; biological response modifiers; hormonal/anti-hormonal therapeutic agents, hematopoietic growth factors, monoclonal antibody targeted therapeutic agents, topoisomerase inhibitors, proteasome inhibitors and ubiquitin ligase inhibitors.

The phrase “estrogen receptor modulators” refers to compounds that interfere with or inhibit the binding of estrogen to the receptor, regardless of mechanism.

The term “gene” or “target gene” as used herein refers to their meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The terms generally refer a nucleic acid (e.g., DNA or RNA) sequence that comprises partial length or entire length coding sequences necessary for the production of a polypeptide. The target gene can also include the UTR or non-coding region of the nucleic acid sequence. A gene or target gene can also encode a functional RNA (fRNA) or non-coding RNA (ncRNA), such as small temporal RNA (stRNA), micro RNA (mRNA), small nuclear RNA (snRNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), small nucleolar RNA (snRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA) and precursor RNAs thereof. Such non-coding RNAs can serve as target nucleic acid molecules for siNA mediated RNA interference in modulating the activity of fRNA or ncRNA involved in functional or regulatory cellular processes. Aberrant fRNA or ncRNA activity leading to disease can therefore be modulated by siNA molecules of the invention. siNA molecules targeting fRNA and ncRNA can also be used to manipulate or alter the genotype or phenotype of a subject, organism or cell, by intervening in cellular processes such as genetic imprinting, transcription, translation, or nucleic acid processing (e.g., transamination, methylation etc.). The target gene can be a gene derived from a cell, an endogenous gene, a transgene, or exogenous genes such as genes of a pathogen, for example a virus, which is present in the cell after infection thereof. The cell containing the target gene can be derived from or contained in any organism, for example a plant, animal, protozoan, virus, bacterium, or fungus. Non-limiting examples of plants include monocots, dicots, or gymnosperms. Non-limiting examples of animals include vertebrates or invertebrates. Non-limiting examples of fungi include molds or yeasts. For a review, see for example Snyder and Gerstein, 2003, Science, 300, 258-260.

The phrase “HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors” refers to inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase. The term HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor as used herein includes all pharmaceutically acceptable lactone and open-acid forms (i.e., where the lactone ring is opened to form the free acid) as well as salt and ester forms of compounds that have HMG-CoA reductase inhibitory activity, and therefore the use of such salts, esters, open-acid and lactone forms is included within the scope of this invention.

The phrase “homologous sequence” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term generally refers a nucleotide sequence that is shared by one or more polynucleotide sequences, such as genes, gene transcripts and/or non-coding polynucleotides. For example, a homologous sequence can be a nucleotide sequence that is shared by two or more genes encoding related but different proteins, such as different members of a gene family, different protein epitopes, different protein isoforms or completely divergent genes. A homologous sequence can be a nucleotide sequence that is shared by or more non-coding polynucleotides, such as noncoding DNA or RNA, regulatory sequences, introns, and sites of transcriptional control or regulation. Homologous sequences can also include sequence regions shared by more than one polynucleotide sequence. Homology does not need to be perfect identity (100%), as partially homologous sequences are also contemplated by and within the scope of the instant invention (e.g., at least 95%, 94%, 93%, 92%, 91%, 90%, 89%, 88%, 87%, 86%, 85%, 84%, 83%, 82%, 81%, 80% etc.). Percent homology is the number of matching nucleotides between two sequences divided by the total length being compared, multiplied by 100.

The phrase “improved RNAi activity” refers to an increase in RNAi activity measured in vitro and/or in vivo, where the RNAi activity is a reflection of both the ability of the siNA to mediate RNAi and the stability of the siNAs of the invention. In this invention, the product of these activities can be increased in vitro and/or in vivo compared to an all RNA siNA or an siNA containing a plurality of ribonucleotides. In some cases, the activity or stability of the siNA molecule can be decreased (i.e., less than ten-fold), but the overall activity of the siNA Molecule is enhanced in vitro and/or in vivo.

The terms “inhibit,” “down-regulate,” or “reduce” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. With reference to exemplary nucleic acid molecules of the invention, the term generally refers the reduction in the expression of the gene, or level of RNA molecules or equivalent RNA molecules encoding one or more proteins or protein subunits, or activity of one or more proteins or protein subunits, below that observed in the absence of the nucleic acid molecules (e.g., siNA) of the invention. Down-regulation can also be associated with post-transcriptional silencing, such as, RNAi mediated cleavage or by alteration in DNA methylation patterns or DNA chromatin structure. Inhibition, down-regulation or reduction with an siNA molecule can be in reference to an inactive molecule, an attenuated molecule, an siNA molecule with a scrambled sequence, or an siNA molecule with mismatches or alternatively, it can be in reference to the system in the absence of the nucleic acid.

The phrase “inhibitors of cell proliferation and survival signaling pathway” refers to pharmaceutical agents that inhibit cell surface receptors and signal transduction cascades downstream of those surface receptors.

The term “integrin blockers” refers to compounds which selectively antagonize, inhibit or counteract binding of a physiological ligand to the α ω β 3 integrin, to compounds which selectively antagonize, inhibit or counteract binding of a physiological ligand to the α ω β 5 integrin, to compounds which antagonize, inhibit or counteract binding of a physiological ligand to both the α ω β 3 integrin and the α 107 β 5 integrin, and to compounds which antagonize, inhibit or counteract the activity of the particular integrin(s) expressed on capillary endothelial cells. The term also refers to antagonists of the α ω β 6 α ω β 8 α 1 β 1 α 2 β 1 α 5 β 1 α 6 β 1 and α 6 β 4 integrins. The term also refers to antagonists of any combination of α ω β 3 , α ω β 5 , α 107 β 6 α ω β 8 α 1 β 1 α 2 β 1 α 5 β 1 α 6 β 1 and α 6 β 4 integrins.

The terms “intermittent” or “intermittently” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term generally refers to periodic stopping and starting at either regular or irregular intervals.

The terms “internucleoside linkage” or “internucleoside linker” or “internucleotide linkage” or “internucleotide linker” are used herein interchangeably and refer to any linker or linkage between two nucleoside units, as is known in the art, including, for example, but not limitation, phosphate, analogs of phosphate, phosphonate, guanidium, hydroxylamine, hydroxylhydrazinyl, amide, carbamate, alkyl, and substituted alkyl linkages. The internucleoside linkages constitute the backbone of a nucleic acid molecule.

The terms “mammalian” or “mammal” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term generally refers to any warm blooded vertebrate species, such as a human, mouse, rat, dog, cat, hamster, guinea pig, rabbit, livestock, and the like.

The phrase “metered dose inhaler” or MDI refers to a unit comprising a can, a secured cap covering the can and a formulation metering valve situated in the cap. MDI systems includes a suitable channeling device. Suitable channeling devices comprise for example, a valve actuator and a cylindrical or cone-like passage through which medicament can be delivered from the filled canister via the metering valve to the nose or mouth of a patient such as a mouthpiece actuator.

The term “microRNA” or “miRNA” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term generally refers a small double-stranded RNA that regulates the expression of target messenger RNAs either by mRNA cleavage, translational repression/inhibition or heterochromatic silencing (see for example Ambros, 2004, Nature, 431, 350-355; Bartel, 2004, Cell, 116, 281-297; Cullen, 2004, Virus Research., 102, 3-9; He et al., 2004, Nat. Rev. Genet., 5, 522-531; Ying et al., 2004, Gene, 342, 25-28; and Sethupathy et al., 2006, RNA, 12:192-197).

The term “modulate” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. With reference to exemplary nucleic acid molecules of the invention, the term refers to when the expression of a gene, or level of one or more RNA molecules (coding or non-coding), or activity of one or more RNA molecules or proteins or protein subunits, is up-regulated or down-regulated, such that expression, level, or activity is greater than or less than that observed in the absence of the molecule that effects modulation. For example, the term “modulate” in some embodiments can refer to inhibition and in other embodiments can refer to potentiation or up-regulation, e.g., of gene expression.

The phrase “modified nucleotide” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term generally refers a nucleotide, which contains a modification in the chemical structure of the base, sugar and/or phosphate of the unmodified (or natural) nucleotide as is generally known in the art. Non-limiting examples of modified nucleotides are described herein and in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/064,014.

The phrase “NSAIDs that are selective COX-2 inhibitors” for purposes herein, refers to NSAIDs, which possess a specificity for inhibiting COX-2 over COX-1 of at least 100 fold as measured by the ratio of IC 50 for COX-2 over IC 50 for COX-1 evaluated by cell or microsomal assays.

The phrase “non-base paired” refers to nucleotides that are not base paired between the sense strand or sense region and the antisense strand or antisense region of an double-stranded siNA molecule; and can include for example, but not limitation, mismatches, overhangs, single stranded loops, etc.

The term “non-nucleotide” refers to any group or compound which can be incorporated into a nucleic acid chain in the place of one or more nucleotide units, such as for example but not limitation abasic moieties or alkyl chains. The group or compound is “abasic” in that it does not contain a commonly recognized nucleotide base, such as adenosine, guanine, cytosine, uracil or thymine and therefore lacks a nucleobase at the 1′-position.

The term “nucleotide” is used as is generally recognized in the art. Nucleotides generally comprise a nucleobase, a sugar, and an internucleoside linkage, e.g., a phosphate. The base can be a natural bases (standard), modified bases, or a base analog, as are well known in the art. Such bases are generally located at the 1′ position of a nucleotide sugar moiety. Additionally, the nucleotides can be unmodified or modified at the sugar, internucleoside linkage, and/or base moiety, (also referred to interchangeably as nucleotide analogs, modified nucleotides, non-natural nucleotides, non-standard nucleotides and others; see, for example, U.S. application Ser. No. 12/064,014.

The term “overhang” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. With reference to exemplary double stranded nucleic acid molecules, the term generally refers to the terminal portion of a nucleotide sequence that is not base paired between the two strands of a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule (see for example, FIG. 4 ). Overhangs, when present, are typically at the 3′-end of one or both strands in a siNA duplex.

The term “parenteral” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term generally refers methods or techniques of administering a molecule, drug, agent, or compound in a manner other than through the digestive tract, and includes epicutaneous, subcutaneous, intravascular (e.g., intravenous), intramuscular, or intrathecal injection or infusion techniques and the like.

The phrase “pathway target” refers to any target involved in pathways of gene expression or activity. For example, any given target can have related pathway targets that can include upstream, downstream, or modifier genes in a biologic pathway. These pathway target genes can provide additive or synergistic effects in the treatment of diseases, conditions, and traits herein.

The term “phosphorothioate” refers to an internucleotide phosphate linkage comprising one or more sulfur atoms in place of an oxygen atom. Hence, the term phosphorothioate refers to both phosphorothioate and phosphorodithioate internucleotide linkages.

“Prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor” refers to a compound that inhibits any one or any combination of the prenyl-protein transferase enzymes, including farnesyl-protein transferase (FPTase), geranylgeranyl-protein transferase type I (GGPTase-I), and geranylgeranyl-protein transferase type-II (GGPTase-IL also called Rab GGPTase).

The phrase “retinoid receptor modulators” refers to compounds that interfere or inhibit the binding of retinoids to the receptor, regardless of mechanism.

The term “ribonucleotide” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term generally refers to a nucleotide with a hydroxyl group at the 2′ position of a β-D-ribofuranose moiety.

The term “RNA” as used herein refers to its generally accepted meaning in the art. Generally, the term RNA refers to a molecule comprising at least one ribofuranoside moiety. The term can include double-stranded RNA, single-stranded RNA, isolated RNA such as partially purified RNA, essentially pure RNA, synthetic RNA, recombinantly produced RNA, as well as altered RNA that differs from naturally occurring RNA by the addition, deletion, substitution and/or alteration of one or more nucleotides. Such alterations can include addition of non-nucleotide material, such as to the end(s) of the siNA or internally, for example at one or more nucleotides of the RNA. Nucleotides in the RNA molecules of the instant invention can also comprise non-standard nucleotides, such as non-naturally occurring nucleotides or chemically synthesized nucleotides or deoxynucleotides. These altered RNAs can be referred to as analogs or analogs of naturally-occurring RNA.

The phrase “RNA interference” or term “RNAi” refer to the biological process of inhibiting or down regulating gene expression in a cell, as is generally known in the art, and which is mediated by short interfering nucleic acid molecules, see for example Zamore and Haley, 2005, Science, 309, 1519-1524; Vaughn and Martienssen, 2005, Science, 309, 1525-1526; Zamore et al., 2000, Cell, 101, 25-33; Bass, 2001, Nature, 411, 428-429; Elbashir et al., 2001, Nature, 411, 494-498; and Kreutzer et al., International PCT Publication No. WO 00/44895; Zernicka-Goetz et al., International PCT Publication No. WO 01/36646; Fire, International PCT Publication No. WO 99/32619; Plaetinck et al., International PCT Publication No. WO 00/01846; Mello and Fire, International PCT Publication No. WO 01/29058; Deschamps-Depaillette, International PCT Publication No. WO 99/07409; and Li et al., International PCT Publication No. WO 00/44914; Allshire, 2002, Science, 297, 1818-1819; Volpe et al., 2002, Science, 297, 1833-1837; Jenuwein, 2002, Science, 297, 2215-2218; and Hall et al., 2002, Science, 297, 2232-2237; Hutvagner and Zamore, 2002, Science, 297, 2056-60; McManus et al., 2002, RNA, 8, 842-850; Reinhart et al., 2002, Gene & Dev., 16, 1616-1626; and Reinhart & Bartel, 2002, Science, 297, 1831). Additionally, the term RNAi is meant to be equivalent to other terms used to describe sequence specific RNA interference, such as post transcriptional gene silencing, translational inhibition, transcriptional inhibition, or epigenetics. For example, siNA molecules of the invention can be used to epigenetically silence genes at either the post-transcriptional level or the pre-transcriptional level. In a non-limiting example, epigenetic modulation of gene expression by siNA molecules of the invention can result from siNA mediated modification of chromatin structure or methylation patterns to alter gene expression (see, for example, Verdel et al., 2004, Science, 303, 672-676; Pal-Bhadra et al., 2004, Science, 303, 669-672; Allshire, 2002, Science, 297, 1818-1819; Volpe et al., 2002, Science, 297, 1833-1837; Jenuwein, 2002, Science, 297, 2215-2218; and Hall et al., 2002, Science, 297, 2232-2237). In another non-limiting example, modulation of gene expression by siNA molecules of the invention can result from siNA mediated cleavage of RNA (either coding or non-coding RNA) via RISC, or via translational inhibition, as is known in the art or modulation can result from transcriptional inhibition (see for example Janowski et al., 2005, Nature Chemical Biology, 1, 216-222).

The phrase “RNAi inhibitor” refers to any molecule that can down regulate, reduce or inhibit RNA interference function or activity in a cell or organism. An RNAi inhibitor can down regulate, reduce or inhibit RNAi (e.g., RNAi mediated cleavage of a target polynucleotide, translational inhibition, or transcriptional silencing) by interaction with or interfering with the function of any component of the RNAi pathway, including protein components such as RISC, or nucleic acid components such as miRNAs or siRNAs. A RNAi inhibitor can be an siNA molecule, an antisense molecule, an aptamer, or a small molecule that interacts with or interferes with the function of RISC, a miRNA, or an siRNA or any other component of the RNAi pathway in a cell or organism. By inhibiting RNAi (e.g., RNAi mediated cleavage of a target polynucleotide, translational inhibition, or transcriptional silencing), a RNAi inhibitor of the invention can be used to modulate (e.g., up-regulate or down regulate) the expression of a target gene.

The phrase “sense region” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. With reference to exemplary nucleic acid molecules of the invention, the term refers to a nucleotide sequence of an siNA molecule having complementarity to an antisense region of the siNA molecule. In addition, the sense region of an siNA molecule can comprise a nucleic acid sequence having homology or sequence identity with a target nucleic acid sequence. In one embodiment, the sense region of the siNA molecule is also referred to as the sense strand or passenger strand.

The phrases “short interfering nucleic acid”, “siNA”, “short interfering RNA”, “siRNA”, “short interfering nucleic acid molecule”, “short interfering oligonucleotide molecule”, or “chemically modified short interfering nucleic acid molecule” refer to any nucleic acid molecule capable of inhibiting or down regulating gene expression or viral replication by mediating RNA interference (“RNAi”) or gene silencing in a sequence-specific manner. These terms can refer to both individual nucleic acid molecules, a plurality of such nucleic acid molecules, or pools of such nucleic acid molecules. The siNA can be a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule comprising self-complementary sense and antisense strands, wherein the antisense strand comprises a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to a nucleotide sequence in a target nucleic acid molecule or a portion thereof and the sense strand comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the target nucleic acid sequence or a portion thereof. The siNA can be a polynucleotide with a duplex, asymmetric duplex, hairpin or asymmetric hairpin secondary structure, having self-complementary sense and antisense regions, wherein the antisense region comprises a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to a nucleotide sequence in a separate target nucleic acid molecule or a portion thereof and the sense region comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the target nucleic acid sequence or a portion thereof. The siNA can be a circular single-stranded polynucleotide having two or more loop structures and a stem comprising self-complementary sense and antisense regions, wherein the antisense region comprises nucleotide sequence that is complementary to a nucleotide sequence in a target nucleic acid molecule or a portion thereof and the sense region comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the target nucleic acid sequence or a portion thereof, and wherein the circular polynucleotide can be processed either in vivo or in vitro to generate an active siNA molecule capable of mediating RNAi. The siNA can also comprise a single-stranded polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence complementary to nucleotide sequence in a target nucleic acid molecule or a portion thereof (for example, where such siNA molecule does not require the presence within the siNA molecule of a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the target nucleic acid sequence or a portion thereof), wherein the single-stranded polynucleotide can further comprise a terminal phosphate group, such as a 5′-phosphate (see for example, Martinez et al., 2002, Cell, 110, 563-574 and Schwarz et al., 2002, Molecular Cell, 10, 537-568), or 5′,3′-diphosphate.

The term “subject” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term generally refers an organism to which the nucleic acid molecules of the invention can be administered. A subject can be a mammal or mammalian cells, including a human or human cells. The term also refers to an organism, which is a donor or recipient of explanted cells or the cells themselves.

The phrase “systemic administration” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term generally refers in vivo systemic absorption or accumulation of drugs in the blood stream followed by distribution throughout the entire body.

The term “target” as it refers to CTNNB1 refers to any CTNNB1 target protein, peptide, or polypeptide, such as encoded by Genbank Accession Nos. shown in Table 5. The term also refers to nucleic acid sequences or target polynucleotide sequence encoding any target protein, peptide, or polypeptide, such as proteins, peptides, or polypeptides encoded by sequences having Genbank Accession Nos. shown in Table 5. The target of interest can include target polynucleotide sequences, such as target DNA or target RNA. The term “target” is also meant to include other sequences, such as differing isoforms, mutant target genes, splice variants of target polynucleotides, target polymorphisms, and non-coding (e.g., ncRNA, miRNA, stRNA, sRNA) or other regulatory polynucleotide sequences as described herein.

The phrase “target site” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term generally refers to a sequence within a target nucleic acid molecule, (e.g., RNA) that is “targeted”, e.g., for cleavage mediated by an siNA construct, which contains sequences within its antisense region that are complementary to the target sequence.

The phrase “therapeutically effective amount” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term generally refers to the amount of the compound or composition that will elicit the biological or medical response of a cell, tissue, system, animal or human that is be sought by the researcher, veterinarian, medical doctor or other clinician. For example, if a given clinical treatment is considered effective when there is at least a 25% reduction in a measurable parameter associated with a disease or disorder, a therapeutically effective amount of a drug for the treatment of that disease or disorder is that amount necessary to effect at least a 25% reduction in that parameter.

The phrase “universal base” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term universal base generally refers to nucleotide base analogs that form base pairs with each of the natural DNA/RNA bases with little or no discrimination between them. Non-limiting examples of universal bases include C-phenyl, C-naphthyl and other aromatic derivatives, inosine, azole carboxamides, and nitroazole derivatives such as 3-nitropyrrole, 4-nitroindole, 5-nitroindole, and 6-nitroindole as known in the art (see for example, Loakes, 2001, Nucleic Acids Research, 29, 2437-2447).

The term “up-regulate” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. With reference to exemplary nucleic acid molecules of the invention, the term refers to an increase in the expression of a gene, or level of RNA molecules or equivalent RNA molecules encoding one or more proteins or protein subunits, or activity of one or more RNAs, proteins or protein subunits, above that observed in the absence of the nucleic acid molecules (e.g., siNA) of the invention. In certain instances, up-regulation or promotion of gene expression with an siNA molecule is above that level observed in the presence of an inactive or attenuated molecule. In other instances, up-regulation or promotion of gene expression with siNA molecules is above that level observed in the presence of, for example, an siNA molecule with scrambled sequence or with mismatches. In still other instances, up-regulation or promotion of gene expression with a nucleic acid molecule of the instant invention is greater in the presence of the nucleic acid molecule than in its absence. In some instances, up-regulation or promotion of gene expression is associated with inhibition of RNA mediated gene silencing, such as RNAi mediated cleavage or silencing of a coding or non-coding RNA target that down regulates, inhibits, or silences the expression of the gene of interest to be up-regulated. The down regulation of gene expression can, for example, be induced by a coding RNA or its encoded protein, such as through negative feedback or antagonistic effects. The down regulation of gene expression can, for example, be induced by a non-coding RNA having regulatory control over a gene of interest, for example by silencing expression of the gene via translational inhibition, chromatin structure, methylation, RISC mediated RNA cleavage, or translational inhibition. As such, inhibition or down regulation of targets that down regulate, suppress, or silence a gene of interest can be used to up-regulate expression of the gene of interest toward therapeutic use.

The term “vector” as used herein refers to its meaning as is generally accepted in the art. The term vector generally refers to any nucleic acid- and/or viral-based expression system or technique used to deliver one or more nucleic acid molecules.

B. siNA Molecules of the Invention

The present invention provides compositions and methods comprising siNAs targeted to CTNNB1 that can be used to treat diseases, e.g., malignancies and/or cancers associated with CTNNB1 expression. In particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, the nucleic acid molecules of the invention comprise at least a 15 nucleotide sequence of the sequences shown in Table 1a and Table 1b. The siNAs can be provided in several forms. For example, the siNA can be isolated as one or more siNA compounds, or it may be in the form of a transcriptional cassette in a DNA plasmid. The siNA may also be chemically synthesized and can include modifications as shown, for example, but not limitation, in Table 1c and Table 6. Thus, in various embodiments, at least one strand or region of the nucleic acids of the invention comprises at least a 15 nucleotide sequence selected from the group of sequences consisting of SEQ ID NOS:1-6374. The siNAs can be administered alone or co-administered with other siNA molecules or with conventional agents that treat a CTNNB1 related disease or condition.

The siNA molecules of the invention can be used to mediate gene silencing, specifically CTNNB1, via interaction with RNA transcripts or alternately by interaction with particular gene sequences, wherein such interaction results in modulation of gene silencing either at the transcriptional level or post-transcriptional level such as, for example, but not limited to, RNAi or through cellular processes that modulate the chromatin structure or methylation patterns of the target and prevent transcription of the target gene, with the nucleotide sequence of the target thereby mediating silencing. More specifically, the target is any of CTNNB1 RNA, DNA, or mRNA,

In one aspect, the invention provides short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecules for inhibiting the expression of the CTNNB1 gene in a cell or mammal. The siNA can be single-stranded or double-stranded. When double-stranded, the siNA comprising a sense and an antisense stand. The antisense strand is complementary to at least a part of an mRNA formed in the expression of the CTNNB1 gene. The sense strand comprises a region that is complementary to the antisense strand. In specific embodiments, the antisense strand comprises at least a 15 nucleotide sequence of an antisense sequence listed in Table 1b. Generally, the double-stranded siNA comprises at least a 15 nucleotide sequence of the sense strand in Table 1b and at least a 15 nucleotide sequence of the antisense strand in Table 1b. One or more of the nucleotides of the siNAs of the invention are optionally modified. In further embodiments having modifications, some siNAs of the invention comprises at least one nucleotide sequence selected from the groups of sequences provide in Table 1c. In other embodiments, the siNA comprises at least two sequences selected from the group of sequences provided in Table 1c, wherein one of the at least two sequences is complementary to another of the at least two sequences and one of the at least two sequences is complementary to a sequence of a mRNA generated in the expression of the CTNNB1 gene. Examples of certain modified siNAs of the invention are in Table 1c.

The double stranded RNA molecules of the invention can comprise two distinct and separate strands that can be symmetric or asymmetric and are complementary, i.e., two single-stranded RNA molecules, or can comprise one single-stranded molecule in which two complementary portions, e.g., a sense region and an antisense region, are base-paired, and are covalently linked by one or more single-stranded “hairpin” areas (i.e. loops) resulting in, for example, a single-stranded short-hairpin polynucleotide or a circular single-stranded polynucleotide.

The linker can be polynucleotide linker or a non-nucleotide linker. In some embodiments, the linker is a non-nucleotide linker. In some embodiments, a hairpin or circular siNA molecule of the invention contains one or more loop motifs, wherein at least one of the loop portions of the siNA molecule is biodegradable. For example, a single-stranded hairpin siNA molecule of the invention is designed such that degradation of the loop portion of the siNA molecule in vivo can generate a double-stranded siNA molecule with 3′-terminal overhangs, such as 3′-terminal nucleotide overhangs comprising 1, 2, 3 or 4 nucleotides. Or alternatively, a circular siNA molecule of the invention is designed such that degradation of the loop portions of the siNA molecule in vivo can generate a double-stranded siNA molecule with 3′-terminal overhangs, such as 3′-terminal nucleotide overhangs comprising about 2 nucleotides.

In symmetric siNA molecules of the invention, each strand, the sense (passenger) strand and antisense (guide) strand, are independently about 15 to about 30 (e.g., about 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30) nucleotides in length. Generally, each strand of the symmetric siNA molecules of the invention are about 19-24 (e.g., about 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 or 24) nucleotides in length.

In asymmetric siNA molecules, the antisense region or strand of the molecule is about 15 to about 30 (e.g., about 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30) nucleotides in length, wherein the sense region is about 3 to about 25 (e.g., about 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25) nucleotides in length. Generally, each strand of the asymmetric siNA molecules of the invention is about 19-24 (e.g., about 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 or 24) nucleotides in length.

In yet other embodiments, siNA molecules of the invention comprise single stranded hairpin siNA molecules, wherein the siNA molecules are about 25 to about 70 (e.g., about 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, or 70) nucleotides in length.

In still other embodiments, siNA molecules of the invention comprise single-stranded circular siNA molecules, wherein the siNA molecules are about 38 to about 70 (e.g., about 38, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, or 70) nucleotides in length.

In still other embodiments, siNA molecules of the invention comprise single-stranded non-circular siNA molecules, wherein the siNA molecules are independently about 15 to about 30 (e.g., about 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30) nucleotides in length.

In various symmetric embodiments, the siNA duplexes of the invention independently comprise about 15 to about 30 (e.g., about 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30) base pairs. Generally, the duplex structure of siNAs of the invention is between 15 and 30, more generally between 18 and 25, yet more generally between 19 and 24, and most generally between 19 and 21 base pairs in length.

In yet other embodiments, where the duplex siNA molecules of the invention are asymmetric, the siNA molecules comprise about 3 to 25 (e.g., about 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25) base pairs. Generally, the duplex structure of siNAs of the invention is between 15 and 25, more generally between 18 and 25, yet more generally between 19 and 24, and most generally between 19 and 21 base pairs in length.

In still other embodiments, where the siNA molecules of the invention are hairpin or circular structures, the siNA molecules comprise about 15 to about 30 (e.g., about 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30) base pairs.

The sense strand and antisense strand, or the sense region and antisense region, of the siNA molecules of the invention can be complementary. Also, the antisense strand or antisense region can be complementary to a nucleotide sequence or a portion thereof of the CTNNB1 target RNA. The sense strand or sense region of the siNA can comprise a nucleotide sequence of a CTNNB1 gene or a portion thereof. In certain embodiments, the sense region or sense strand of an siNA molecule of the invention is complementary to that portion of the antisense region or antisense strand of the siNA molecule that is complementary to a CTNNB1 target polynucleotide sequence, such as for example, but not limited to, those sequences represented by GENBANK Accession Nos. shown in Table 5.

In some embodiments, siNA molecules of the invention have perfect complementarity between the sense strand or sense region and the antisense strand or antisense region of the siNA molecule. In other or the same embodiments, the antisense strand of the siNA molecules of the invention are perfectly complementary to a corresponding target nucleic acid molecule.

In yet other embodiments, siNA molecules of the invention have partial complementarity (i.e., less than 100% complementarity) between the sense strand or sense region and the antisense strand or antisense region of the siNA molecule or between the antisense strand or antisense region of the siNA molecule and a corresponding target nucleic acid molecule. Thus, in some embodiments, the double-stranded nucleic acid molecules of the invention, have between about 15 to about 30 (e.g., about 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30) nucleotides in one strand that are complementary to the nucleotides of the other strand. In other embodiments, the molecules have between about 15 to about 30 (e.g., about 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30) nucleotides in the sense region that are complementary to the nucleotides of the antisense region. of the double-stranded nucleic acid molecule. In certain embodiments, the double-stranded nucleic acid molecules of the invention have between about 15 to about 30 (e.g., about 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30) nucleotides in the antisense strand that are complementary to a nucleotide sequence of its corresponding target nucleic acid molecule.

In other embodiments, the siNA molecule can contain one or more nucleotide deletions, substitutions, mismatches and/or additions; provided, however, that the siNA molecule maintains its activity, for example, to mediate RNAi. In a non-limiting example, the deletion, substitution, mismatch and/or addition can result in a loop or bulge, or alternately a wobble or other alternative (non Watson-Crick) base pair. Thus, in some embodiments, for example, the double-stranded nucleic acid molecules of the invention, have 1 or more (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6) nucleotides, in one strand or region that are mismatches or non-base-paired with the other strand or region. In other embodiments, the double-stranded nucleic acid molecules of the invention, have 1 or more (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6) nucleotides in each strand or region that are mismatches or non-base-paired with the other strand or region. In a preferred embodiment, the siNA of the invention contains no more than 3 mismatches. If the antisense strand of the siNA contains mismatches to a target sequence, it is preferable that the area of mismatch not be located in the center of the region of complementarity.

In other embodiments, the siNA molecule can contain one or more nucleotide deletions, substitutions, mismatches and/or additions to a sequence in Table 1b provided, however, that the siNA molecule maintains its activity, for example, to mediate RNAi. In a non-limiting example, the deletion, substitution, mismatch and/or addition can result in a loop or bulge, or alternately a wobble or other alternative (non Watson-Crick) base pair.

The invention also comprises double-stranded nucleic acid (siNA) molecules as otherwise described hereinabove in which the first strand and second strand are complementary to each other and wherein at least one strand is hybridisable to the polynucleotide sequence of a sequence in Table 1b under conditions of high stringency, and wherein any of the nucleotides is unmodified or chemically modified.

Hybridization techniques are well known to the skilled artisan (see for instance, Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989)). Preferred stringent hybridization conditions include overnight incubation at 42° C. in a solution comprising: 50% formamide, 5×SSC (150 mM NaCl, 15 mM trisodium citrate), 50 mM sodium phosphate (pH 7.6), 5×Denhardt's solution, 10% dextran sulfate, and 20 microgram/ml denatured, sheared salmon sperm DNA; followed by washing the filters in 0.1×SSC at about 65° C.

In one specific embodiment, the first strand has about 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21 nucleotides that are complementary to the nucleotides of the other strand and at least one strand is hybridisable to a polynucleotide sequence in Table 1b. In a more preferred embodiment, the first strand has about 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21 nucleotides that are complementary to the nucleotides of the other strand and at least one strand is hybridisable to SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 1049, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 1091, SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 1099, SEQ ID NO: 53, or SEQ ID NO:1101; under conditions of high stringency, and wherein any of the nucleotides is unmodified or chemically modified.

In certain embodiments, the siNA molecules of the invention comprise overhangs of about 1 to about 4 (e.g., about 1, 2, 3 or 4) nucleotides. The nucleotides in the overhangs can be the same or different nucleotides. In some embodiments, the overhangs occur at the 3′-end at one or both strands of the double-stranded nucleic acid molecule. For example, a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule of the invention can comprise a nucleotide or non-nucleotide overhang at the 3′-end of the antisense strand/region, the 3′-end of the sense strand/region, or both the antisense strand/region and the sense strand/region of the double-stranded nucleic acid molecule.

In some embodiments, the nucleotides comprising the overhang portion of an siNA molecule of the invention comprise sequences based on the CTNNB1 target polynucleotide sequence in which nucleotides comprising the overhang portion of the antisense strand/region of an siNA molecule of the invention can be complementary to nucleotides in the CTNNB1 target polynucleotide sequence and/or nucleotides comprising the overhang portion of the sense strand/region of an siNA molecule of the invention can comprise the nucleotides in the CTNNB1 target polynucleotide sequence. Thus, in some embodiments, the overhang comprises a two nucleotide overhang that is complementary to a portion of the CTNNB1 target polynucleotide sequence. In other embodiments, however, the overhang comprises a two nucleotide overhang that is not complementary to a portion of the CTNNB1 target polynucleotide sequence. In certain embodiments, the overhang comprises a 3′-UU overhang that is not complementary to a portion of the CTNNB1 target polynucleotide sequence. In other embodiments, the overhang comprises a UU overhang at the 3′ end of the antisense strand and a TT overhang at the 3′ end of the sense strand. In other embodiments, the overhang comprises nucleotides as described in the examples, Tables, and Figures herein.

In any of the embodiments of the siNA molecules described herein having 3′-terminal nucleotide overhangs, the overhangs are optionally chemically modified at one or more nucleic acid sugar, base, or backbone positions. Representative, but not limiting examples of modified nucleotides in the overhang portion of a double-stranded nucleic acid (siNA) molecule of the invention include: 2′-O-alkyl (e.g., 2′-O-methyl), 2′-deoxy, 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro, 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoroarabino (FANA), 4′-thio, 2′-O-trifluoromethyl, 2′-O-ethyl-trifluoromethoxy, 2′-O-difluoromethoxy-ethoxy, universal base, acyclic, or 5-C-methyl nucleotides. In more preferred embodiments, the overhang nucleotides are each independently, a 2′-O-alkyl nucleotide, a 2′-O-methyl nucleotide, a T-dexoy-2-fluoro nucleotide, or a 2′-deoxy ribonucleotide. In some instances the overhang nucleotides are linked by a one or more phosphorothioate linkages.

In yet other embodiments, siNA molecules of the invention comprise duplex nucleic acid molecules with blunt ends (i.e., without nucleotide overhangs), where both ends are blunt, or alternatively, where one of the ends is blunt. In some embodiments, the siNA molecules of the invention can comprises one blunt end, for example wherein the 5′-end of the antisense strand and the 3′-end of the sense strand do not have any overhanging nucleotides. In another example, the siNA molecule comprises one blunt end, for example wherein the 3′-end of the antisense strand and the 5′-end of the sense strand do not have any overhanging nucleotides. In other embodiments, siNA molecules of the invention comprise two blunt ends, for example wherein the 3′-end of the antisense strand and the 5′-end of the sense strand as well as the 5′-end of the antisense strand and 3′-end of the sense strand do not have any overhanging nucleotides.

In any of the embodiments or aspects of the siNA molecules of the invention, the sense strand and/or the antisense strand can further have a cap, such as described herein or as known in the art, at the 3′-end, the 5′-end, or both of the 3′ and 5′-ends of the sense strand and/or antisense strand. Or as in the case of a hairpin siNA molecule, the cap can be at either one or both of the terminal nucleotides of the polynucleotide. In some embodiments, the cap is at one of both of the ends of the sense strand of a double-stranded siNA molecule. In other embodiments, the cap is at the 3′-end of antisense (guide) strand. In preferred embodiments, the caps are at the 3′-end of the sense strand and the 5′-end of the sense strand.

Representative, but non-limiting examples of such terminal caps include an inverted abasic nucleotide, an inverted deoxy abasic nucleotide, an inverted nucleotide moiety, a group shown in FIG. 5 , a glyceryl modification, an alkyl or cycloalkyl group, a heterocycle, or any other cap as is generally known in the art.

Any of the embodiments of the siNA molecules of the invention can have a 5′ phosphate termini. In some embodiments, the siNA molecules lack terminal phosphates.

Any siNA molecule or construct of the invention can comprise one or more chemical modifications. Modifications can be used to improve in vitro or in vivo characteristics such as stability, activity, toxicity, immune response (e.g., prevent stimulation of an interferon response, an inflammatory or pro-inflammatory cytokine response, or a Toll-like Receptor (TIP) response), and/or bioavailability.

Applicants describe herein chemically modified siNA molecules with improved RNAi activity and/or stability compared to corresponding unmodified siNA molecules. Various chemically modified siNA motifs disclosed herein provide the capacity to maintain RNAi activity that is substantially similar to unmodified or minimally modified active siRNA (see for example Elbashir et al., 2001, EMBO J., 20:6877-6888) while at the same time providing nuclease resistance and pharmacokinetic properties suitable for use in therapeutic applications.

In various embodiments, the siNA molecules of the invention comprise modifications wherein any (e.g., one or more or all) nucleotides present in the sense and/or antisense strand are modified nucleotides (e.g., wherein one nucleotide is modified, some nucleotides (i.e., plurality or more than one) are modified, or all nucleotides are modified nucleotides. In some embodiments, the siNA molecules of the invention are partially modified (e.g., about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 55, or 59 nucleotides are modified) with chemical modifications. In some embodiments, an siNA molecule of the invention comprises at least about 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, or 60 nucleotides that are modified nucleotides. In other embodiments, the siNA molecules of the invention are completely modified (e.g., 100% modified) with chemical modifications, i.e., the siNA molecule does not contain any ribonucleotides. In some of embodiments, one or more of the nucleotides in the sense strand of the siNA molecules of the invention are modified. In the same or other embodiments, one or more of the nucleotides in the antisense strand of the siNA molecules of the invention are modified.

The chemical modification within a single siNA molecule can be the same or different. In some embodiments, at least one strand has at least one chemical modification. In other embodiments, each strand has at least one chemical modifications, which can be the same or different, such as, sugar, base, or backbone (i.e., internucleotide linkage) modifications. In other embodiments, siNA molecules of the invention contain at least 2, 3, 4, 5, or more different chemical modifications.

Non-limiting examples of chemical modifications that are suitable for use in the present invention, are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/444,853; 10/981,966; 12/064,014 and in references cited therein and include sugar, base, and phosphate, non-nucleotide modifications, and/or any combination thereof.

In certain specific embodiments of the invention, at least one modified nucleotide is a 2′-deoxy-2-fluoro nucleotide, a 2′-deoxy nucleotide, a 2′-O-alkyl (e.g., 2′-O-methyl) nucleotide, or a locked nucleic acid (LNA) nucleotide as is generally recognized in the art.

In yet other embodiment of the invention, at least one nucleotide has a ribo-like, Northern or A form helix configuration (see e.g., Saenger, Principles of Nucleic Acid Structure, Springer-Verlag ed., 1984). Non-limiting examples of nucleotides having a Northern configuration include locked nucleic acid (LNA) nucleotides (e.g., 2-O, 4′-C-methylene-(D-ribofuranosyl) nucleotides); 2′-methoxyethoxy (MOE) nucleotides; 2′-methyl-thio-ethyl nucleotides, 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro nucleotides; 2′-deoxy-2′-chloro nucleotides; 2′-azido nucleotides; 2′-O-trifluoromethyl nucleotides; 2′-O-ethyl-trifluoromethoxy nucleotides; 2′-O-difluoromethoxy-ethoxy nucleotides; 4′-thio nucleotides and 2′-O-methyl nucleotides.

In various embodiments, a majority (e.g., greater than 50%) of the pyrimidine nucleotides present in the double-stranded siNA molecule comprises a sugar modification. In some of the same and/or other embodiments, a majority (e.g., greater than 50%) of the purine nucleotides present in the double-stranded siNA molecule comprises a sugar modification.

In some embodiments, the pyrimidine nucleotides in the antisense strand are 2-O-methyl or 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro pyrimidine nucleotides and the purine nucleotides present in the antisense strand are 2-O-methyl nucleotides or 2′-deoxy nucleotides. In other embodiments, the pyrimidine nucleotides in the sense strand are 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro pyrimidine nucleotides and the purine nucleotides present in the sense strand are 2′-O-methyl or 2′-deoxy purine nucleotides.

In certain embodiments of the invention, all the pyrimidine nucleotides in the complementary region on the sense strand are 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro pyrimidine nucleotides. In certain embodiments, all of the pyrimidine nucleotides in the complementary region of the antisense strand are 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro pyrimidine nucleotides. In certain embodiments, all the purine nucleotides in the complementary region on the sense strand are 2′-deoxy purine nucleotides. In certain embodiments, all of the purines in the complementary region on the antisense strand are 2′-O-methyl purine nucleotides. In certain embodiments, all of the pyrimidine nucleotides in the complementary regions on the sense strand are 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro pyrimidine nucleotides; all of the pyrimidine nucleotides in the complementary region of the antisense strand are 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro pyrimidine nucleotides; all the purine nucleotides in the complementary region on the sense strand are 2′-deoxy purine nucleotides and all of the purines in the complementary region on the antisense strand are 2′-O-methyl purine nucleotides.

In some embodiments, at least 5 or more of the pyrimidine nucleotides in one or both stands are 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro pyrimidine nucleotides. In some embodiments, at least 5 or more of the pyrimidine nucleotides in one or both stands are 2′-O-methyl pyrimidine nucleotides. In some embodiments, at least 5 or more of the purine nucleotides in one or both stands are 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro purine nucleotides In some embodiments, at least 5 or more of the purine nucleotides in one or both stands are 2′-O-methyl purine nucleotides.

In certain embodiments, the purines and pyrimidines are differentially modified at the 2′-sugar position (i.e., at least one purine has a different modification from at least one pyrimidine in the same or different strand at the 2′-sugar position). For example, in some instances, at least 5 or more of the pyrimidine nucleotides in one or both stands are 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro pyrimidine nucleotides and at least 5 or more purine nucleotides in one or both strands are 2′-O-methyl purine nucleotides. In other instances at least 5 or more of the pyrimidine nucleotides in one or both stands are 2′-O-methyl pyrimidine nucleotides and at least 5 or more purine nucleotides in one or both strands are 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro purine nucleotides.

Further non-limiting examples of sense and antisense strands of such siNA molecules having various modifications and modifications patterns are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 .

Any of the above described modifications, or combinations thereof, including those in the references cited, can be applied to any of the siNA molecules of the invention.

The modified siNA molecules of the invention can comprise modifications at various locations within the siNA molecule. In some embodiments, the double-stranded siNA molecule of the invention comprises modified nucleotides at internal base paired positions within the siNA duplex. In other embodiments, a double-stranded siNA molecule of the invention comprises modified nucleotides at non-base paired or overhang regions of the siNA molecule. In yet other embodiments, a double-stranded siNA molecule of the invention comprises modified nucleotides at terminal positions of the siNA molecule. For example, such terminal regions include the 3′-position and/or 5′-position of the sense and/or antisense strand or region of the siNA molecule. Additionally, any of the modified siNA molecules of the invention can have a modification in one or both oligonucleotide strands of the siNA duplex, for example in the sense strand, the antisense strand, or both strands. Moreover, with regard to chemical modifications of the siNA molecules of the invention, each strand of the double-stranded siNA molecules of the invention can have one or more chemical modifications, such that each strand comprises a different pattern of chemical modifications.

In certain embodiments each strand of a double-stranded siNA molecule of the invention comprises a different pattern of chemical modifications, such as any Stab modification chemistries described herein (see Table 9) or any combination thereof, i.e., different combinations of defined Stabilzation chemistry (Stab) sense and antisense strands. Further, non-limiting examples of modification schemes that could give rise to different patterns of modifications are shown in Table 9. The stabilization chemistries referred to in Table 9 as Stab, can be combined in any combination of sense/antisense chemistries, such as Stab 7/8, Stab 7/11, Stab 8/8, Stab 18/8, Stab 18/11, Stab 12/13, Stab 7/13, Stab 18/13, Stab 7/19, Stab 8/19, Stab 18/19, Stab 7/20, Stab 8/20, Stab 18/20, Stab 7/32, Stab 8/32, or Stab 18/32 or any other combination of Stabilization chemistries.

In any of the siNAs of the invention, one or more (for example 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) nucleotides at the 5′-end of the guide strand or guide region (also known as antisense strand or antisense region) of the siNA molecule are ribonucleotides.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a double-stranded short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecule that modulates the expression of CTNNB1, wherein the siNA comprises a sense strand and an antisense strand; each strand is independently 15 to 30 nucleotides in length; and the antisense strand comprises at least 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 nucleotides having sequence complementary to any of:

In some embodiments, the antisense strand of a siNA molecule of the invention comprises at least a 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 nucleotide sequence of:

In some embodiments, the sense strand of a siNA molecule of the invention comprises at least a 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 nucleotide sequence of:

In some embodiments, a siNA molecule of the invention comprises any of:

Any of the above described modifications, or combinations thereof, including those in the references cited, can be applied to any of these embodiments.

In certain embodiments, the nucleotides of the at least a 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 4918, SEQ ID NO: 194, SEQ ID NO: 5107, SEQ ID NO: 196, SEQ ID NO: 5109, SEQ ID NO: 151, or SEQ ID NO: 5064 form a contiguous stretch of nucleotides.

In some embodiments, the siNA molecule can contain one or more nucleotide deletions, substitutions, mismatches and/or additions to the at least 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 4918, SEQ ID NO: 194, SEQ ID NO: 5107, SEQ ID NO: 196, SEQ ID NO: 5109, SEQ ID NO: 151, or SEQ ID NO: 5064; provided, however, that the siNA molecule maintains its activity, for example, to mediate RNAi. In a non-limiting example, the deletion, substitution, mismatch and/or addition can result in a loop or bulge, or alternately a wobble or other alternative (non Watson-Crick) base pair.

In certain embodiments of the invention, double-stranded siNA molecules are provided, wherein the molecule has a sense strand and an antisense strand and comprises the following formula (A):

wherein, the upper strand is the sense strand and the lower strand is the antisense strand of the double-stranded nucleic acid molecule; wherein the antisense strand comprises at least a 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4918, SEQ ID NO: 5107, SEQ ID NO: 5109, or SEQ ID NO: 5064, and the sense strand comprises a sequence having complementarity to the antisense strand;

each N is independently a nucleotide which is unmodified or chemically modified or a non-nucleotide;

each B is a terminal cap that is present or absent;

(N) represents overhanging nucleotides, each of which is independently unmodified or chemically modified;

[N] represents nucleotides that are ribonucleotides;

X1 and X2 are independently integers from 0 to 4;

X3 is an integer from 15 to 30;

X4 is an integer from 9 to 30; and

X5 is an integer from 0 to 6, provided that the sum of X4 and X5 is 15-30.

In certain embodiments, the nucleotides of the at least a 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4918, SEQ ID NO: 5107, SEQ ID NO: 5109, or SEQ ID NO: 5064 form a contiguous stretch of nucleotides.

In some embodiments, the siNA molecule of formula A can contain one or more nucleotide deletions, substitutions, mismatches and/or additions to the at least 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4918, SEQ ID NO: 5107, SEQ ID NO: 5109, or SEQ ID NO: 5064; provided, however, that the siNA molecule maintains its activity, for example, to mediate RNAi. In a non-limiting example, the deletion, substitution, mismatch and/or addition can result in a loop or bulge, or alternately a wobble or other alternative (non Watson-Crick) base pair.

In one embodiment, the invention features a double-stranded short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) of formula (A); wherein

(a) one or more pyrimidine nucleotides in N X4 positions are independently 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro nucleotides, 2′-O-alkyl nucleotides, 2′-deoxy nucleotides, ribonucleotides, or any combination thereof; (b) one or more purine nucleotides in N X4 positions are independently 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro nucleotides, 2′-O-alkyl nucleotides, 2′-deoxy nucleotides, ribonucleotides, or any combination thereof; (c) one or more pyrimidine nucleotides in N X3 positions are independently 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro nucleotides, 2-O-alkyl nucleotides, 2′-deoxy nucleotides, ribonucleotides, or any combination thereof; and (d) one or more purine nucleotides in N X3 positions are independently 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro nucleotides, 2-O-alkyl nucleotides, 2′-deoxy nucleotides, ribonucleotides, or any combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, the invention features a double-stranded short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecule of formula (A); wherein

(a) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more pyrimidine nucleotides in N X4 positions are 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro nucleotides; (b) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more purine nucleotides in N X4 positions are 2-O-alkyl nucleotides; (c) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more pyrimidine nucleotides in N X3 positions are 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro nucleotides; and (d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more purine nucleotides in N X3 positions are 2′-deoxy nucleotides.

In certain embodiments, the invention features a double-stranded short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecule of formula (A); wherein

(a) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more pyrimidine nucleotides in N X4 positions are 2′-O-alkyl nucleotides; (b) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more purine nucleotides in N X4 positions are ribonucleotides; (c) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more pyrimidine nucleotides in N X3 positions are 2′-O-alkyl nucleotides; and (d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more purine nucleotides in N X3 positions are ribonucleotides.

In certain embodiments, the invention features a double-stranded short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecule of formula (A); wherein

(a) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more pyrimidine nucleotides in N X4 positions are 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro nucleotides; (b) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more purine nucleotides in N X4 positions are 2′-O-alkyl nucleotides; (c) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more pyrimidine nucleotides in N X3 positions are 2′-O-alkyl nucleotides; and (d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more purine nucleotides in N X3 positions are 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro nucleotides.

In certain embodiments, the invention features a double-stranded short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecule of formula (A) further comprising one or more phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages.

In some embodiments, siNA molecules having formula A comprise a terminal phosphate group at the 5′-end of the antisense strand or antisense region of the nucleic acid molecule.

In various embodiments, siNA molecules having formula A comprise X5=0, 1, 2, or 3; each X1 and X2=1 or 2; X3=18, 19, 20, 21, 22, or 23, and X4=17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, or 23.

In certain embodiments, siNA molecules having formula A comprise X5=3. In other embodiments siNA molecules having formula A comprise X5=0.

In certain embodiments, siNA molecules having formula A comprise X1=2 and X2=2.

In various embodiments, siNA molecules having formula A comprise X5=0, X1=2, and X2=2. In other embodiments, siNA molecules having formula A comprise X5=3, X1=2, and X2=2.

In one specific embodiment, an siNA molecule having formula A comprises X5=3; each X1 and X2=2; X3=19, and X4=16.

In another specific embodiment, an siNA molecule having formula A comprises X5=0; each X1 and X2=2; X3=19, and X4=19.

In certain embodiments, siNA molecules having formula A comprise caps (B) at the 3′ and 5′ ends of the sense strand or sense region.

In certain embodiments, siNA molecules having formula A comprise caps (B) at the 3′-end of the antisense strand or antisense region.

In various embodiments, siNA molecules having formula A comprise caps (B) at the 3′ and 5′ ends of the sense strand or sense region and caps (B) at the 3′-end of the antisense strand or antisense region.

In yet other embodiments, siNA molecules having formula A comprise caps (B) only at the 5′-end of the sense (upper) strand of the double-stranded nucleic acid molecule.

In some embodiments, siNA molecules having formula A further comprise one or more phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages between the nucleotides. In certain embodiments, siNA molecules having formula A comprise one or more phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages between the first terminal (N) and the adjacent nucleotide on the 3′ end of the sense strand, antisense strand, or both sense strand and antisense strands of the nucleic acid molecule. For example, a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule can comprise X1 and/or X2=2 having overhanging nucleotide positions with a phosphorothioate internucleotide linkage, e.g., (NsN) where “s” indicates phosphorothioate.

In some embodiments, one or more of the nucleotides of siNA molecules having formula A have a universal base.

In certain embodiments, siNA molecules having formula A have at position 14 from the 5′-end of the antisense strand a ribonucleotide when the nucleotide at that position 14 is a purine. In other embodiments, siNA molecules having formula A have at position 14 from the 5′-end of the antisense strand a ribonucleotide, a 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro nucleotide or a 2′-O-methyl nucleotide when the nucleotide at that position 14 is a pyrimidine nucleotide.

In some embodiments, siNA molecules having formula A comprises (N) nucleotides in the antisense strand (lower strand) that are complementary to nucleotides in a CTNNB1 target polynucleotide sequence, which also has complementarity to the N and [N] nucleotides of the antisense (lower) strand.

In certain embodiments, one or more siNA molecules of the invention are modified according to modification criteria as shown and described in U.S. Ser. No. 61/408,428 and U.S. Ser. No. 61/408,303, both of which are incorporated by reference herein.

Any of the above described modifications, or combinations thereof, discussed above as applicable to siNAs of the invention, including those in the references cited, can be applied to any of the embodiments to siNA molecules of the present invention.

C. Generation/Synthesis of siNA Molecules

The siNAs of the invention can be obtained using a number of techniques known to those of skill in the art. For example the siNA can be chemically synthesized or may be encoded by plasmid (e.g., transcribed as sequences that automatically fold into duplexes with hairpin loops.). siNA can also be generated by cleavage of longer dsRNA (e.g., dsRNA greater than about 25 nucleotides in length) by the E coli RNase II or Dicer. These enzymes process the dsRNA into biologically active siNA (see, e.g., Yang et al., PNAS USA 99:9942-9947 (2002); Calegari et al. PNAS USA 99:14236 (2002) Byron et al. Ambion Tech Notes; 10 (1):4-6 (2009); Kawaski et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 31:981-987 (2003), Knight and Bass, Science, 293:2269-2271 (2001) and Roberston et al., J. Biol. Chem 243:82(1969).

1. Chemical Synthesis

Preferably, siNA of the invention are chemically synthesized. Oligonucleotides (e.g., certain modified oligonucleotides or portions of oligonucleotides lacking ribonucleotides) are synthesized using protocols known in the art, for example as described in Caruthers et al., 1992, Methods in Enzymology 211, 3-19, Thompson et al., International PCT Publication No. WO 99/54459, Wincott et al., 1995, Nucleic Acids Res. 23, 2677-2684, Wincott et al., 1997, Methods Mol. Bio., 74, 59, Brennan et al., 1998, Biotechnol Bioeng., 61, 33-45, and Brennan, U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,311. The synthesis of oligonucleotides makes use of common nucleic acid protecting and coupling groups, such as dimethoxytrityl at the 5′-end, and phosphoramidites at the 3′-end.

siNA molecules without modifications are synthesized using procedures as described in Usman et al., 1987, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 109, 7845; Scaringe et al., 1990, Nucleic Acids Res., 18, 5433. These syntheses makes use of common nucleic acid protecting and coupling groups, such as dimethoxytrityl at the 5′-end, and phosphoramidites at the 3′-end that can be used for certain siNA molecules of the invention.

In certain embodiments, the siNA molecules of the invention are synthesized, deprotected, and analyzed according to methods described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,995,259, 6,686,463, 6,673,918, 6,649,751, 6,989,442, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/190,359.

In a non-limiting synthesis example, small scale syntheses are conducted on a 394 Applied Biosystems, Inc. synthesizer using a 0.2 μmol scale protocol with a 2.5 min coupling step for 2′-O-methylated nucleotides and a 45 second coupling step for 2′-deoxy nucleotides or 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro nucleotides. Table 10 outlines the amounts and the contact times of the reagents used in the synthesis cycle.

Alternatively, the siNA molecules of the present invention can be synthesized separately and joined together post-synthetically, for example, by ligation (Moore et al., 1992, Science 256, 9923; Draper et al., International PCT Publication No. WO 93/23569; Shabarova et al., 1991, Nucleic Acids Research 19, 4247; Bellon et al., 1997, Nucleosides & Nucleotides, 16, 951; Bellon et al., 1997, Bioconjugate Chem. 8, 204), or by hybridization following synthesis and/or deprotection.

Various siNA molecules of the invention can also be synthesized using the teachings of Scaringe et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,889,136; 6,008,400; and 6,111,086.

2. Vector Expression

Alternatively, siNA molecules of the invention that interact with and down-regulate gene encoding target CTNNB1 molecules can be expressed and delivered from transcription units (see for example Couture et al., 1996, TIG., 12, 510) inserted into DNA or RNA vectors. The recombinant vectors can be DNA plasmids or viral vectors. siNA expressing viral vectors can be constructed based on, but not limited to, adeno-associated virus, retrovirus, adenovirus, or alphavirus.

In some embodiments, pol III based constructs are used to express nucleic acid molecules of the invention. Transcription of the siNA molecule sequences can be driven from a promoter for eukaryotic RNA polymerase I (pol I), RNA polymerase II (pol II), or RNA polymerase III (pol 111). (see for example, Thompson, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,902,880 and 6,146,886). (See also, Izant and Weintraub, 1985, Science, 229, 345; McGarry and Lindquist, 1986, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 83, 399; Scanlon et al., 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88, 10591-5; Kashani-Sabet et al., 1992, Antisense Res. Dev., 2, 3-15; Dropulic et al., 1992, J. Virol., 66, 1432-41; Wecrasinghe et al., 1991, J. Virol., 65, 5531-4; Ojwang et al., 1992, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89, 10802-6; Chen et al., 1992, Nucleic Acids Res., 20, 4581-9; Sarver et al., 1990 Science, 247, 1222-1225; Thompson et al., 1995, Nucleic Acids Res., 23, 2259; Good et al., 1997, Gene Therapy, 4, 45. Transcripts from pol II or pol III promoters are expressed at high levels in all cells; the levels of a given pol II promoter in a given cell type depends on the nature of the gene regulatory sequences (enhancers, silencers, etc.) present nearby. Prokaryotic RNA polymerase promoters are also used, providing that the prokaryotic RNA polymerase enzyme is expressed in the appropriate cells (Elroy-Stein and Moss, 1990, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 87, 6743-7; Gao and Huang 1993, Nucleic Acids Res., 21, 2867-72; Lieber et al., 1993, Methods Enzymol., 217, 47-66; Zhou et al., 1990, Mol. Cell. Biol., 10, 4529-37). Several investigators have demonstrated that nucleic acid molecules expressed from such promoters can function in mammalian cells (e.g. Kashani-Sabet et al., 1992, Antisense Res. Dev., 2, 3-15; Ojwang et al., 1992, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89, 10802-6; Chen et al., 1992, Nucleic Acids Res., 20, 4581-9; Yu et al., 1993, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90, 6340-4; L'Huillier et al., 1992, EMBO J., 11, 4411-8; Lisziewicz et al., 1993, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U S. A, 90, 8000-4; Thompson et al., 1995, Nucleic Acids Res., 23, 2259; Sullenger & Cech, 1993, Science, 262, 1566). More specifically, transcription units such as the ones derived from genes encoding U6 small nuclear (snRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA) and adenovirus VA RNA are useful in generating high concentrations of desired RNA molecules such as siNA in cells (Thompson et al., supra; Couture and Stinchcomb, 1996, supra; Noonberg et al., 1994, Nucleic Acid Res., 22, 2830; Noonberg et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,803; Good et al., 1997, Gene Ther., 4, 45; Beigelman et al., International PCT Publication No. WO 96/18736. The above siNA transcription units can be incorporated into a variety of vectors for introduction into mammalian cells, including but not restricted to, plasmid DNA vectors, viral DNA vectors (such as adenovirus or adeno-associated virus vectors), or viral RNA vectors (such as retroviral or alphavirus vectors) (for a review see Couture and Stinchcomb, 1996, supra).

Vectors used to express the siNA molecules of the invention can encode one or both strands of an siNA duplex, or a single self-complementary strand that self hybridizes into an siNA duplex. The nucleic acid sequences encoding the siNA molecules of the instant invention can be operably linked in a manner that allows expression of the siNA molecule (see for example Paul et al., 2002, Nature Biotechnology, 19, 505; Miyagishi and Taira, 2002, Nature Biotechnology, 19, 497; Lee et al., 2002, Nature Biotechnology, 19, 500; and Novina et al., 2002, Nature Medicine , advance online publication doi:10.1038/nm725).

D. Carrier/Delivery Systems

The siNA molecules of the invention are added directly, or can be complexed with cationic lipids, packaged within liposomes, or as a recombinant plasmid or viral vectors which express the siNA molecules, or otherwise delivered to target cells or tissues. Methods for the delivery of nucleic acid molecules are described in Akhtar et al., 1992, Trends Cell Bio., 2, 139; Delivery Strategies for Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapeutics , ed. Akhtar, 1995, Maurer et al., 1999, Mol. Membr. Biol., 16, 129-140; Hofland and Huang, 1999, Handb. Exp. Pharmacol., 137, 165-192; and Lee et al., 2000, ACS Symp. Ser., 752, 184-192. Beigelman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,395,713 and Sullivan et al., PCT WO 94/02595 further describe the general methods for delivery of nucleic acid molecules. These protocols can be utilized for the delivery of virtually any nucleic acid molecule. Nucleic acid molecules can be administered to cells by a variety of methods known to those of skill in the art, including, but not restricted to, encapsulation in liposomes, by iontophoresis, or by incorporation into other vehicles, such as biodegradable polymers, hydrogels, cyclodextrins (see for example, Gonzalez et al., 1999, Bioconjugate Chem., 10, 1068-1074; Wang et al., International PCT Publication Nos. WO 03/47518 and WO 03/46185), poly(lactic-co-glycolic)acid (PLGA) and PLCA microspheres (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,447,796 and US Patent Application Publication No. US 2002130430), biodegradable nanocapsules, and bioadhesive microspheres, or by proteinaceous vectors (O'Hare and Normand, International PCT Publication No. WO 00/53722).

In one aspect, the present invention provides carrier systems containing the siNA molecules described herein. In some embodiments, the carrier system is a lipid-based carrier system, cationic lipid, or liposome nucleic acid complexes, a liposome, a micelle, a virosome, a lipid nanoparticle or a mixture thereof. In other embodiments, the carrier system is a polymer-based carrier system such as a cationic polymer-nucleic acid complex. In additional embodiments, the carrier system is a cyclodextrin-based carrier system such as a cyclodextrin polymer-nucleic acid complex. In further embodiments, the carrier system is a protein-based carrier system such as a cationic peptide-nucleic acid complex. Preferably, the carrier system is a lipid nanoparticle (“LNP”) formulation.

In certain embodiments, the siNA molecules of the invention are formulated with a lipid nanoparticle composition such as is described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/353,630, 11/586,102, 61/189,295, 61/204,878, 61/235,476, 61/249,807, 61/298,022, 61/351373, 61/347640, 61/345754, 61/322054, 12/640342, and 12/617079, and PCT Applications Nos. PCT/US10/020013 and PCT/US09/053336. In certain preferred embodiments, the siNA molecules of the invention are formulated with a lipid nanoparticle composition comprising a cationic lipid/Cholesterol/PEG-C-DMA/DSPC in a 40/48/2/10 ratio or a cationic lipid/CholesteroUPEG-DMG/DSPC in a 40/48/2/10 ratio. In more certain embodiments, the cationic lipid is DLinDMA (see Table 12), the PEG is PEG-DMG, and the N/P ratio of the formulation is 2.8. In more preferred embodiments, the cationic lipid is DLinDMA (see Tables 11 & 12).

In various embodiments, lipid nanoparticle formulations described in Table 11 are applied to any siNA molecule or combination of siNA molecules herein. In some embodiments, the invention features a composition comprising an siNA molecule of the invention formulated as any of formulation LNP-051; LNP-053; LNP-054; LNP-069; LNP-073; LNP-077; LNP-080; LNP-082; LNP-083; LNP-060; LNP-061; LNP-086; LNP-097; LNP-098; LNP-099; LNP-100; LNP-101; LNP-102; LNP-103; or LNP-104 (see Table 11).

In certain other embodiments, the invention features a composition comprising an siNA molecule of the invention formulated with any of the cationic lipid formulations described in U.S. Patent Application Nos. 61/189,295, 61/204,878, 61/235,476, 61/249,807, and 61/298,022.

In other embodiments, the invention features conjugates and/or complexes of siNA molecules of the invention. Such conjugates and/or complexes can be used to facilitate delivery of siNA molecules into a biological system, such as a cell. The conjugates and complexes provided by the instant invention can impart therapeutic activity by transferring therapeutic compounds across cellular membranes, altering the pharmacokinetics, and/or modulating the localization of nucleic acid molecules of the invention. Non-limiting, examples of such conjugates are described in U.S. Publication Nos. US2008/0152661 A1 and US 2004/0162260 A1 (e.g., CDM-LBA, CDM-Pip-LBA, CDM-PEG, CDM-NAG, etc.) and U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/427,160 10/201,394, 61/322422, and 61/315,223; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,528,631; 6,335,434; 6,235,886; 6,153,737; 5,214,136; and 5,138,045.

In various embodiments, polyethylene glycol (PEG) can be covalently attached to siNA compounds of the present invention. The attached PEG can be any molecular weight, preferably from about 100 to about 50,000 daltons (Da).

In yet other embodiments, the invention features compositions or formulations comprising surface-modified liposomes containing poly (ethylene glycol) lipids (PEG-modified, or long-circulating liposomes or stealth liposomes) and siNA molecules of the invention, such as is disclosed in for example, International PCT Publication No. WO 96/10391; Anscll et al., International PCT Publication No. WO 96/10390; Holland et al., International PCT Publication No. WO 96/10392.

In some embodiments, the siNA molecules of the invention can also be formulated or complexed with polyethyleneimine and derivatives thereof, such as polyethyleneiminc-polyethyleneglycol-N-acetylgalactosamine (PEI-PEG-GAL) or polyethyleneimine-polyethyleneglycol-tri-N-acetylgalactosamine (PEI-PEG-triGAL) derivatives. In one embodiment, the nucleic acid molecules of the invention are formulated as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20030077829.

In other embodiments, siNA molecules of the invention are complexed with membrane disruptive agents such as those described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20010007666. In still other embodiments, the membrane disruptive agent or agents and the siNA molecule are also complexed with a cationic lipid or helper lipid molecule, such as those lipids described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,235,310.

In certain embodiments, siNA molecules of the invention are complexed with delivery systems as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2003077829; 20050287551; 20050164220; 20050191627; 20050118594; 20050153919; 20050085486; and 20030158133; and International PCT Publication Nos. WO 00/03683 and WO 02/087541.

In some embodiments, a liposomal formulation of the invention comprises an siNA molecule of the invention (e.g., siNA) formulated or complexed with compounds and compositions described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,858,224; 6,534,484; 6,287,591; 6,835,395; 6,586,410; 6,858,225; 6,815,432; 6,586,001; 6,120,798; 6,977,223; 6,998,115; 5,981,501; 5,976,567; 5,705,385; and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2006/0019912; 2006/0019258; 2006/0008909; 2005/0255153; 2005/0079212; 2005/0008689; 2003/0077829, 2005/0064595, 2005/0175682, 2005/0118253; 2004/0071654; 2005/0244504; 2005/0265961 and 2003/0077829.

Alternatively, recombinant plasmids and viral vectors, as discussed above, which express siNAs of the invention can be used to deliver the molecules of the invention. Delivery of siNA molecule expressing vectors can be systemic, such as by intravenous or intra-muscular administration, by administration to target cells ex-planted from a subject followed by reintroduction into the subject, or by any other means that would allow for introduction into the desired target cell (for a review see Couture et al., 1996, TIG., 12, 510). Such recombinant plasmids can also be administered directly or in conjunction with a suitable delivery reagents, including, for example, the Minis Transit LT1 lipophilic reagent; lipofectin; lipofectamine; cellfectin; polycations (e.g., polylysine) or liposomes lipid-based carrier system, cationic lipid, or liposome nucleic acid complexes, a micelle, a virosome, a lipid nanoparticle.

E. Kits

The present invention also provides nucleic acids in kit form. The kit may comprise a container. The kit typically contains a nucleic acid of the invention with instructions for its administration. In certain instances, the nucleic acids may have a targeting moiety attached. Methods of attaching targeting moieties (e.g. antibodies, proteins) are known to those of skill in the art. In certain instances, the nucleic acids are chemically modified. In other embodiments, the kit contains more than one siNA molecule of the invention. The kits may comprise an siNA molecule of the invention with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. The kits may further comprise excipients.

F. Therapeutic Uses/Pharmaceutical Compositions

The present body of knowledge in CTNNB1 research indicates the need for methods to assay CTNNB1 activity and for compounds that can regulate CTNNB1 expression for research, diagnostic, and therapeutic use. As described infra, the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention can be used in assays to diagnose disease state related of CTNNB1 levels. In addition, the nucleic acid molecules and pharmaceutical compositions can be used to treat disease states related to CTNNB1 RNA levels.

1. Disease States Associated with CTNNB1

Particular disease states that can be associated with CTNNB1 expression modulation include various cancers including solid tumors. Non-limiting examples of such cancers include: bilary tract cancer, bladder cancer, transitional cell carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, osteosarcoma, brain cancer, gliomas, astrocytomas, breast carcinoma, metaplastic carcinoma, cervical cancer, cervical squamous cell carcinoma, rectal cancer, colorectal carcinoma, colon cancer, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, colorectal adenocarcinomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), endometrial carcinoma, endometrial stromal sarcomas, esophageal cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, esophageal adenocarcinoma, ocular melanoma, uveal melanoma, gallbladder carcinomas, gallbladder adenocarcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, clear cell renal cell carcinoma, transitional cell carcinoma, urothelial carcinomas, wilms tumor, leukemia, acute lymocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic (CLL), chronic myeloid (CML), chronic myelomonocytic (CMML), liver cancer, liver carcinoma, hepatoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, hepatoblastoma, Lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), mesothelioma, B-cell lymphomas, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, Mantle cell lymphoma, T-cell lymphomas, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, precursor T-lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia, peripheral T-cell lymphomas, multiple myeloma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), neuroblastoma, oropharyngeal cancer, oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas, osteosarcoma, ovarian carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, pseudopapillary neoplasms, acinar cell carcinomas, Prostate cancer, prostate adenocarcinoma, skin cancer, melanoma, malignant melanoma, cutaneous melanoma, small intestine carcinomas, stomach cancer, gastric carcinoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), uterine cancer, and uterine sarcoma.

It is understood that the siNA molecules of the invention can degrade the target CTNNB1 mRNA (and thus inhibit the diseases stated above). Inhibition of a disease can be evaluated by directly measuring the progress of the disease in a subject. It can also be inferred through observing a change or reversal in a condition associated with the disease. Additionally, the siNA molecules of the invention can be used as a prophylaxis. Thus, the use of the nucleic acid molecules and pharmaceutical compositions of the invention can be used to ameliorate, treat, prevent, and/or cure these diseases and others associated with regulation of CTNNB1 gene expression.

2. Pharmaceutical Compositions

The siNA molecules of the instant invention provide useful reagents and methods for a variety of therapeutic, prophylactic, cosmetic, veterinary, diagnostic, target validation, genomic discovery, genetic engineering, and pharmacogenomic applications.

a. Formulations

Thus, the present invention, in one aspect, also provides for pharmaceutical compositions of the siNA molecules described, i.e., compositions in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. These pharmaceutical compositions include salts, esters, or salts of such esters, of the above compounds, e.g., acid addition salts, for example, salts of hydrochloric, hydrobromic, hydroiodic, acetic acid, and benzene sulfonic acid. Other salts include for example, sodium, potassium, manganese, ammonium, and calcium salts. These formulations or compositions can comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent as is generally known in the art.

In one embodiment, the invention features a pharmaceutical composition comprising an siNA molecule comprising at least a 15 nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5. In another embodiment, the invention features a pharmaceutical composition comprising an siNA molecule comprising at least a 15 nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4918. In yet another embodiment, the invention features a pharmaceutical composition comprising an siNA molecule comprising at least a 15 nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 194. In still another embodiment, the invention features a pharmaceutical composition comprising an siNA molecule comprising at least a 15 nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5107. In another embodiment, the invention features a pharmaceutical composition comprising an siNA molecule comprising at least a 15 nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 196. In another embodiment, the invention features a pharmaceutical composition comprising an siNA molecule comprising at least a 15 nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5109. In another embodiment, the invention features a pharmaceutical composition comprising an siNA molecule comprising at least a 15 nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 151. In yet another embodiment, the invention features a pharmaceutical composition comprising an siNA molecule comprising at least a 15 nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5064. In still another embodiment, the invention features a pharmaceutical composition comprising an siNA molecule comprising formula (A).

The siNA molecules of the invention are preferably formulated as pharmaceutical compositions prior to administering to a subject, according to techniques known in the art. Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention are characterized as being at least sterile and pyrogen-free. Methods for preparing pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are within the skill in the art for example as described in Remington's Pharmaceutical Science, 17 th cd., Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa. (1985).

In some embodiments, pharmaceutical compositions of the invention (e.g. siNA and/or LNP formulations thereof) further comprise conventional pharmaceutical excipients and/or additives. Suitable pharmaceutical excipients include preservatives, flavoring agents, stabilizers, antioxidants, osmolality adjusting agents, buffers, and pH adjusting agents. Suitable additives include physiologically biocompatible buffers (e.g., trimethylamine hydrochloride), addition of chelants (such as, for example, DTPA or DTPA-bisamide) or calcium chelate complexes (as for example calcium DTPA, CaNaDTPA-bisamide), or, optionally, additions of calcium or sodium salts (for example, calcium chloride, calcium ascorbate, calcium gluconate or calcium lactate). In addition, antioxidants and suspending agents can be used.

Non-limiting examples of various types of formulations for local administration include ointments, lotions, creams, gels, foams, preparations for delivery by transdermal patches, powders, sprays, aerosols, capsules or cartridges for use in an inhaler or insufflator or drops (for example eye or nose drops), solutions/suspensions for nebulization, suppositories, pessaries, retention enemas and chewable or suckable tablets or pellets (for example for the treatment of aphthous ulcers) or liposome or microencapsulation preparations.

Ointments, creams and gels, can, for example, can be formulated with an aqueous or oily base with the addition of suitable thickening and/or gelling agent and/or solvents. Non limiting examples of such bases can thus, for example, include water and/or an oil such as liquid paraffin or a vegetable oil such as arachis oil or castor oil, or a solvent such as polyethylene glycol. Various thickening agents and gelling agents can be used depending on the nature of the base. Non-limiting examples of such agents include soft paraffin, aluminum stearate, cetostearyl alcohol, polyethylene glycols, woolfat, beeswax, carboxypolymethylene and cellulose derivatives, and/or glyceryl monostearate and/or non-ionic emulsifying agents.

In one embodiment lotions can be formulated with an aqueous or oily base and will in general also contain one or more emulsifying agents, stabilizing agents, dispersing agents, suspending agents or thickening agents.

In one embodiment powders for external application can be formed with the aid of any suitable powder base, for example, talc, lactose or starch. Drops can be formulated with an aqueous or non-aqueous base also comprising one or more dispersing agents, solubilizing agents, suspending agents or preservatives.

Compositions intended for oral use can be prepared according to any method known to the art for the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions and such compositions can contain one or more such sweetening agents, flavoring agents, coloring agents or preservative agents in order to provide pharmaceutically elegant and palatable preparations. Tablets contain the active ingredient in admixture with non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable excipients that are suitable for the manufacture of tablets. These excipients can be, for example, inert diluents; such as calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, lactose, calcium phosphate or sodium phosphate; granulating and disintegrating agents, for example, corn starch, or alginic acid; binding agents, for example starch, gelatin or acacia; and lubricating agents, for example magnesium stearate, stearic acid or talc. The tablets can be uncoated or they can be coated by known techniques. In some cases such coatings can be prepared by known techniques to delay disintegration and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby provide a sustained action over a longer period. For example, a time delay material such as glyceryl monosterate or glyceryl distearate can be employed.

Formulations for oral use can also be presented as hard gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with an inert solid diluent, for example, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate or kaolin, or as soft gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with water or an oil medium, for example peanut oil, liquid paraffin or olive oil.

Aqueous suspensions contain the active materials in a mixture with excipients suitable for the manufacture of aqueous suspensions. Such excipients are suspending agents, for example sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydropropyl-methylcellulose, sodium alginate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gum tragacanth and gum acacia; dispersing or wetting agents can be a naturally-occurring phosphatide, for example, lecithin, or condensation products of an alkylene oxide with fatty acids, for example polyoxyethylene stearate; or condensation products of ethylene oxide with long chain aliphatic alcohols, for example heptadecaethyleneoxycetanol, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and a hexitol such as polyoxyethylene sorbitol monooleate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, for example polyethylene sorbitan monooleate. The aqueous suspensions can also contain one or more preservatives, for example ethyl, or n-propyl p-hydroxybenzoate, one or more coloring agents, one or more flavoring agents, and one or more sweetening agents, such as sucrose or saccharin.

Oily suspensions can be formulated by suspending the active ingredients in a vegetable oil, for example arachis oil, olive oil, sesame oil or coconut oil, or in a mineral oil such as liquid paraffin. The oily suspensions can contain a thickening agent, for example beeswax, hard paraffin or cetyl alcohol. Sweetening agents and flavoring agents can be added to provide palatable oral preparations. These compositions can be preserved by the addition of an anti-oxidant such as ascorbic acid

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention can also be in the form of oil-in-water emulsions. The oily phase can be a vegetable oil or a mineral oil or mixtures of these. Suitable emulsifying agents can be naturally-occurring gums, for example gum acacia or gum tragacanth, naturally-occurring phosphatides, for example soy bean, lecithin, and esters or partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol, anhydrides, for example sorbitan monooleate, and condensation products of the said partial esters with ethylene oxide, for example polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate. The emulsions can also contain sweetening and flavoring agents.

Syrups and elixirs can be formulated with sweetening agents, for example glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, glucose or sucrose. Such formulations can also contain a demulcent, a preservative and flavoring and coloring agents. The pharmaceutical compositions can be in the form of a sterile injectable aqueous or oleaginous suspension. This suspension can be formulated according to the known art using those suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents that have been mentioned above. The sterile injectable preparation can also be a sterile injectable solution or suspension in a non-toxic parentally acceptable diluent or solvent, for example as a solution in 1,3-butanediol. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that can be employed are water, Ringer's solution and isotonic sodium chloride solution. In addition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose, any bland fixed oil can be employed including synthetic mono- or diglycerides. In addition, fatty acids such as oleic acid find use in the preparation of injectables.

The nucleic acid molecules of the invention can also be administered in the form of suppositories, e.g., for rectal administration of the drug. These compositions can be prepared by mixing the drug with a suitable non-irritating excipient that is solid at ordinary temperatures but liquid at the rectal temperature and will therefore melt in the rectum to release the drug. Such materials include cocoa butter and polyethylene glycols.

Nucleic acid molecules of the invention can be administered parenterally in a sterile medium. The drug, depending on the vehicle and concentration used, can either be suspended or dissolved in the vehicle. Advantageously, adjuvants such as local anesthetics, preservatives and buffering agents can be dissolved in the vehicle.

In other embodiments, the siNA and LNP compositions and formulations provided herein for use in pulmonary delivery further comprise one or more surfactants. Suitable surfactants or surfactant components for enhancing the uptake of the compositions of the invention include synthetic and natural as well as full and truncated forms of surfactant protein A, surfactant protein B, surfactant protein C, surfactant protein D and surfactant Protein E, di-saturated phosphatidylcholine (other than dipalmitoyl), dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine; phosphatidic acid, ubiquinones, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylcholine, palmitoyl-lysophosphatidylcholine, dehydroepiandrosterone, dolichols, sulfatidic acid, glycerol-3-phosphate, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, glycerol, glycero-3-phosphocholine, dihydroxyacetone, palmitate, cytidine diphosphate (CDP) diacylglycerol, CDP choline, choline, choline phosphate; as well as natural and artificial lamellar bodies which are the natural carrier vehicles for the components of surfactant, omega-3 fatty acids, polyenic acid, polycnoic acid, lecithin, palmitinic acid, non-ionic block copolymers of ethylene or propylene oxides, polyoxypropylene, monomeric and polymeric, polyoxyethylene, monomeric and polymeric, poly (vinyl amine) with dextran and/or alkanoyl side chains, Brij 35, Triton X-100 and synthetic surfactants ALEC, Exosurf, Survan and Atovaquone, among others. These surfactants can be used either as single or part of a multiple component surfactant in a formulation, or as covalently bound additions to the 5′ and/or 3′ ends of the nucleic acid component of a pharmaceutical composition herein.

b. Combinations

The siNAs and pharmaceutical formulations according to the invention can be administered to a subject alone or used in combination with or include one or more other therapeutic agents, for example, anticancer agents. Thus, combinations of the presently disclosed compounds with other anti-cancer or chemotherapeutic agents are within the scope of the invention. Examples of such agents can be found in Cancer Principles and Practice of Oncology by V. T. Devita and S. Hellman (editors), 6 th edition (Feb. 15, 2001), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Publishers. A person of ordinary skill in the art would be able to discern which combinations of agents would be useful based on the particular characteristics of the drugs and the cancer involved. Such anti-cancer agents include, but are not limited to, the following: estrogen receptor modulators, androgen receptor modulators, retinoid receptor modulators, cytotoxic/cytostatic agents, antiproliferative agents, prenyl-protein transferase inhibitors, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and other angiogenesis inhibitors, inhibitors of cell proliferation and survival signaling, apoptosis inducing agents and agents that interfere with cell cycle checkpoints. The siNAs of the invention are also useful in combination with any therapeutic agent used in the treatment of HCC, for example, but not limitation sorafenib. The instant compounds are particularly useful when co-administered with radiation therapy.

In a further embodiment, therefore, the invention provides a combination comprising an siNA molecule of the invention, such as for example, but not limitation, an siNA molecule comprising at least a 15 nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 4918, SEQ ID NO: 194, SEQ ID NO: 5107, SEQ ID NO: 196, SEQ ID NO: 5109, SEQ ID NO: 151, or SEQ ID NO: 5064; or formula (A) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or physiologically functional derivative thereof together with one or more anti-cancer or chemotherapeutic agents.

In certain embodiments, the instant siNA molecules of the invention are useful in combination with known anti-cancer agents including the following: estrogen receptor modulators, androgen receptor modulators, retinoid receptor modulators, cytotoxic agents, antiproliferative agents, prenyl-protein transferase inhibitors, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, HIV protease inhibitors, reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and other angiogenesis inhibitors.

Examples of estrogen receptor modulators that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, tamoxifen, raloxifene, idoxifene, LY353381, LY117081, toremifene, fulvestrant, 4-[7-(2,2-dimethyl-1-oxopropoxy-4-methyl-2-[4-[2-(1-piperidinyl)ethoxy]phenyl]-2H-1-benzopyran-3-yl]-phenyl-2,2-dimethylpropanoate, 4,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone-2,4-dinitrophenyl-hydrazone, and SH646.

Examples of androgen receptor modulators that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, finasteride and other 5α-reductase inhibitors, nilutamide, flutamide, bicalutamide, liarozole, and abiraterone acetate.

Examples of such retinoid receptor modulators that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, bexarotene, tretinoin, 13-cis-retinoic acid, 9-cis-retinoic acid, α-difluoromethylornithine, ILX23-7553, trans-N-(4′-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide, and N-4-carboxyphenyl retinamide.

Examples of cytotoxic agents that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, sertenef, cachectin, ifosfamide, tasonermin, lonidamine, carboplatin, altretamine, prednimustine, dibromodulcitol, ranimustine, fotemustine, nedaplatin, oxaliplatin, temozolomide, heptaplatin, estramustine, improsulfan tosilate, trofosfamide, nimustine, dibrospidium chloride, pumitepa, lobaplatin, satraplatin, pro firomycin, cisplatin, irofulven, dexifosfamide, cis-aminedichloro(2-methyl-pyridine)platinum, benzylguanine, glufosfamide, GPX100, (trans, trans, trans)-bis-mu-(hexane-1,6-diamine)-mu-[diamine-platinum(II)]bis[diamine(chloro)platinum (II)]tetrachloride, diarizidinylspermine, arsenic trioxide, 1-(11-dodecylamino-10-hydroxyundecyl)-3,7-dimethylxanthine, zorubicin, idarubicin, daunorubicin, bisantrene, mitoxantrone, pirarubicin, pinafide, valrubicin, amrubicin, antineoplaston, 3′-deamino-3′-morpholino-13-deoxo-10-hydroxycarminomycin, annamycin, galarubicin, elinafide, MEN 10755, and 4-demethoxy-3-deamino-3-aziridinyl-4-methylsulphonyl-daunorubicin (see WO 00/50032).

An example of a hypoxia activatable compound that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention is tirapazamine.

Examples of proteasome inhibitors that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, lactacystin and bortezomib.

Examples of microtubule inhibitors/microtubule-stabilising agents that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, paclitaxel, vindesine sulfate, 3′,4′-didehydro-4′-deoxy-8′-norvincaleukoblastine, docetaxol, rhizoxin, dolastatin, mivobulin isethionate, auristatin, cemadotin, RPR109881, BMS184476, vinflunine, cryptophycin, 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluoro-N-(3-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl) benzene sulfonamide, anhydrovinblastine, N,N-dimethyl-L-valyl-L-valyl-N-methyl-L-valyl-L-prolyl-L-proline-t-butylamide, TDX258, the epothilones (see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,284,781 and 6,288,237) and BMS188797.

Some examples of topoisomerase inhibitors that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, are topotecan, hycaptamine, irinotecan, rubitecan, 6-cthoxypropionyl-3′,4′-O-exo-benzylidene-chartreusin, 9-methoxy-N,N-dimethyl-5-nitropyrazolo[3,4,5-kl]acridine-2-(6H) propanamine, 1-amino-9-ethyl-5-fluoro-2,3-dihydro-9-hydroxy-4-methyl-1H,12H-benzo[de]pyrano[3′,4′:b,7]-indolizino[1,2b]quinoline-10,13(9H,15H)dione, lurtotecan, 7-[2-(N-isopropylamino)ethyl]-(20S)camptothecin, BNP1350, BNPI1100, BN80915, BN80942, etoposide phosphate, teniposide, sobuzoxane, 2′-dimethylamino-2′-deoxy-etoposide, GL331, N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-9-hydroxy-5,6-dimethyl-6H-pyrido [4,3-b]carbazole-1-carboxamide, asulacrine, (5a, 5aB, 8aa, 9b)-9-[2-[N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-N-methylamino]ethyl]-5-[4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl]-5,5a,6,8,8a,9-hexohydrofuro(3′,4:6,7)naphtho(2,3-d)-1,3-dioxol-6-one, 2,3-(methylenedioxy)-5-methyl-7-hydroxy-8-methoxybenzo[c]-phenanthridinium, 6,9-bis[(2-aminoethyl)amino]benzo[g]isoguinoline-5,10-dione, 5-(3-aminopropylamino)-7,10-dihydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethylaminomethyl)-6H-pyrazolo[4,5,1-de]acridin-6-one, N-[1-[2(diethylamino)ethylamino]-7-methoxy-9-oxo-9H-thioxanthen-4-ylmethyl]formamide, N-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)acridine-4-carboxamide, 6-[[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]amino]-3-hydroxy-7H-indeno[2,1-c] quinolin-7-one, and dimesna.

Examples of inhibitors of mitotic kinesins, and in particular the human mitotic kinesin KSP, that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, inhibitors described in PCT Publications WO 01/30768, WO 01/98278, WO 03/050,064, WO 03/050,122, WO 03/049,527, WO 03/049,679, WO 03/049,678, WO04/039774, WO03/079973, WO03/099211, WO03/105855, WO03/106417, WO04/037171, WO04/058148, WO04/058700, WO04/126699, WO05/018638, WO05/019206, WO05/019205, WO05/018547, WO05/017190, US2005/0176776. In an embodiment inhibitors of mitotic kinesins include, but are not limited to inhibitors of KSP, inhibitors of MKLP1, inhibitors of CENP-E, inhibitors of MCAK, inhibitors of Kif14, inhibitors of Mphosph1 and inhibitors of Rab6-KIFL.

Examples of “histone deacetylase inhibitors” that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, TSA, oxamflatin, PXD101, MG98, valproic acid and scriptaid. Further reference to other histone deacetylase inhibitors may be found in the following manuscript; Miller, T. A. et al. J. Med. Chem. 46(24):5097-5116 (2003).

Inhibitors of kinases involved in mitotic progression that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, inhibitors of aurora kinase, inhibitors of Polo-like kinases (PLK) (in particular inhibitors of PLK-1), inhibitors of bub-1 and inhibitors of bub-R1.

Antiproliferative agents that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, antisense RNA and DNA oligonucleotides such as G3139, ODN698, RVASKRAS, GEM231, and INX3001, and antimetabolites such as enocitabine, carmofur, tegafur, pentostatin, doxifluridine, trimetrexate, fludarabine, capecitabine, galocitabine, cytarabine ocfosfate, fosteabine sodium hydrate, raltitrexed, paltitrexid, emitefur, tiazofurin, decitabine, nolatrexed, pemetrexed, nelzarabine, 2′-deoxy-2′-methylidenecytidine, 2′-fluoromethylene-2′-deoxycytidine, N-[5-(2,3-dihydro-benzofuryl)sulfonyl]-N′-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)urea, N6-[4-deoxy-4-[N2-[2-(E),4(E)-tetradecadienoyl]glycylamino]-L-glycero-B-L-manno-heptopyranosyl]adenine, aplidine, ecteinascidin, troxacitabine, 4-[2-amino-4-oxo-4,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3H-pyrimidino[5,4-b][1,4]thiazin-6-yl-(S)-ethyl]-2,5-thienoyl-L-glutamic acid, aminopterin, 5-flurouracil, alanosine, 11-acetyl-8-(carbamoyloxymethyl)-4-formyl-6-methoxy-14-oxa-1,11-diazatetracyclo(7.4.1.0.0)-tetradeca-2,4,6-trien-9-yl acetic acid ester, swainsonine, lometrexol, dexrazoxane, methioninase, 2′-cyano-2′-deoxy-N4-palmitoyl-1-B-D-arabino furanosyl cytosine and 3-aminopyridine-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone.

Examples of monoclonal antibody targeted therapeutic agents that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include those therapeutic agents which have cytotoxic agents or radioisotopes attached to a cancer cell specific or target cell specific monoclonal antibody, such as, for example, Bexxar.

Examples of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors that may be used that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, lovastatin (MEVACOR®; see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,231,938, 4,294,926 and 4,319,039), simvastatin (ZOCOR®; see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,444,784, 4,820,850 and 4,916,239), pravastatin (PRAVACHOL®; see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,346,227, 4,537,859, 4,410,629, 5,030,447 and 5,180,589), fluvastatin (LESCOL®; see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,354,772, 4,911,165, 4,929,437, 5,189,164, 5,118,853, 5,290,946 and 5,356,896) and atorvastatin (LIPITOR®; see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,273,995, 4,681,893, 5,489,691 and 5,342,952). The structural formulas of these and additional HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors that may be used in the instant methods are described at page 87 of M. Yalpani, “Cholesterol Lowering Drugs”, Chemistry & Industry, pp. 85-89 (5 February 1996) and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,782,084 and 4,885,314.

Examples of prenyl-protein transferase inhibitors that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, can be found in the following publications and patents: WO 96/30343, WO 97/18813, WO 97/21701, WO 97/23478, WO 97/38665, WO 98/28980, WO 98/29119, WO 95/32987, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,420,245, 5,523,430, 5,532,359, 5,510,510, 5,589,485, 5,602,098, European Patent Publ. 0 618 221, European Patent Publ. 0 675 112, European Patent Publ. 0 604 181, European Patent Publ. 0 696 593, WO 94/19357, WO 95/08542, WO 95/11917, WO 95/12612, WO 95/12572, WO 95/10514, U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,152, WO 95/10515, WO 95/10516, WO 95/24612, WO 95/34535, WO 95/25086, WO 96/05529, WO 96/06138, WO 96/06193, WO 96/16443, WO 96/21701, WO 96/21456, WO 96/22278, WO 96/24611, WO 96/24612, WO 96/05168, WO 96/05169, WO 96/00736, U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,792, WO 96/17861, WO 96/33159, WO 96/34850, WO 96/34851, WO 96/30017, WO 96/30018, WO 96/30362, WO 96/30363, WO 96/31111, WO 96/31477, WO 96/31478, WO 96/31501, WO 97/00252, WO 97/03047, WO 97/03050, WO 97/04785, WO 97/02920, WO 97/17070, WO 97/23478, WO 97/26246, WO 97/30053, WO 97/44350, WO 98/02436, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,359. For an example of the role of a prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor on angiogenesis see European J. of Cancer, Vol. 35, No. 9, pp. 1394-1401 (1999).

Examples of angiogenesis inhibitors that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as inhibitors of the tyrosine kinase receptors Flt-1 (VEGFR1) and Flk-1/KDR (VEGFR2), inhibitors of epidermal-derived, fibroblast-derived, or platelet derived growth factors, MMP (matrix metalloprotease) inhibitors, integrin blockers, interferon-α, interleukin-12, pentosan polysulfate, cyclooxygenase inhibitors, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen as well as selective cyclooxy-genase-2 inhibitors like celecoxib and rofecoxib ( PNAS , Vol. 89, p. 7384 (1992); JNCI , Vol. 69, p. 475 (1982); Arch. Opthalmol ., Vol. 108, p. 573 (1990); Anat. Rec ., Vol. 238, p. 68 (1994); FEBS Letters , Vol. 372, p. 83 (1995); Clin, Orthop . Vol. 313, p. 76 (1995); J. Mol. Endocrinol., Vol. 16, p. 107 (1996); Jpn. J. Pharmacol., Vol. 75, p. 105 (1997); Cancer Res., Vol. 57, p. 1625 (1997); Cell, Vol. 93, p. 705 (1998); Intl. J. Mol. Med., Vol. 2, p. 715 (1998); J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 274, p. 9116 (1999)), steroidal anti-inflammatories (such as corticosteroids, mineralocorticoids, dexamethasone, prednisone, prednisolone, methylpred, betamethasone), carboxyamidotriazole, combretastatin A-4, squalamine, 6-O-chloroacetyl-carbonyl)-fumagillol, thalidomide, angiostatin, troponin-1, angiotensin II antagonists (see Fernandez et al., J. Lab. Clin. Med. 105:141-145 (1985)), and antibodies to VEGF (see, Nature Biotechnology, Vol. 17, pp. 963-968 (October 1999); Kim et al., Nature, 362, 841-844 (1993); WO 00/44777; and WO 00/61186).

Other therapeutic agents that modulate or inhibit angiogenesis may also be used in combination with the compounds of the instant invention and include agents that modulate or inhibit the coagulation and fibrinolysis systems (see review in Clin. Chem. La. Med. 38:679-692 (2000)). Examples of such agents that modulate or inhibit the coagulation and fibrinolysis pathways that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, heparin (see Thromb. Haemost. 80:10-23 (1998)), low molecular weight heparins and carboxypeptidase U inhibitors (also known as inhibitors of active thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor [TAFIa]) (see Thrombosis Res. 101:329-354 (2001)). TAFIa inhibitors have been described in PCT Publication WO 03/013,526 and U.S. Ser. No. 60/349,925 (filed Jan. 18, 2002).

Agents that interfere with cell cycle checkpoints that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, inhibitors of ATR, ATM, the Chk1 and Chk2 kinases and cdk and cdc kinase inhibitors and are specifically exemplified by 7-hydroxystaurosporin, flavopiridol, CYC202 (Cyclacel) and BMS-387032.

Agents that interfere with receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, inhibitors of c-Kit, Eph, PDGF, Flt3 and CTNNB1. Further agents include inhibitors of RTKs as described by Bume-Jensen and Hunter, Nature, 411:355-365, 2001.

Inhibitors of cell proliferation and survival signaling pathway that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, inhibitors of EGFR (for example gefitinib and erlotinib), inhibitors of ERB-2 (for example trastuzumab), inhibitors of IGFR, inhibitors of cytokine receptors, inhibitors of CTNNB1, inhibitors of PI3K (for example LY294002), serine/threonine kinases (including but not limited to inhibitors of Akt such as described in WO 02/083064, WO 02/083139, WO 02/083140, US 2004-0116432, WO 02/083138, US 2004-0102360, WO 03/086404, WO 03/086279, WO 03/086394, WO 03/084473, WO 03/086403, WO 2004/041162, WO 2004/096131, WO 2004/096129, WO 2004/096135, WO 2004/096130, WO 2005/100356, WO 2005/100344), inhibitors of Raf kinase (for example BAY-43-9006), inhibitors of MEK (for example CI-1040 and PD-098059) and inhibitors of mTOR (for example Wyeth CCI-779). Such agents include small molecule inhibitor compounds and antibody antagonists.

Apoptosis inducing agents that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, activators of TNF receptor family members (including the TRAIL receptors).

NSAIDs that are selective COX-2 inhibitors that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, those NSAIDs disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,474,995, 5,861,419, 6,001,843, 6,020,343, 5,409,944, 5,436,265, 5,536,752, 5,550,142, 5,604,260, 5,698,584, 5,710,140, WO 94/15932, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,344,991, 5,134,142, 5,380,738, 5,393,790, 5,466,823, 5,633,272, and 5,932,598, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Inhibitors of COX-2 that are particularly useful in combination with the compounds of the invention include: 3-phenyl-4-(4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl)-2-(5H)-furanone; and 5-chloro-3-(4-methylsulfonyl)-phenyl-2-(2-methyl-5-pyridinyl)pyridine; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Compounds that have been described as specific inhibitors of COX-2 and are therefore useful in the present invention include, but are not limited to: parecoxib, CELEBREX® and BEXTRA® or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Angiogenesis inhibitors that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, endostatin, ukrain, ranpirnase, IM862, 5-methoxy-4-[2-methyl-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)oxiranyl]-1-oxaspiro[2,5]oct-6-yl(chloroacetyl)carbamate, acetyldinanaline, 5-amino-1-[[3,5-dichloro-4-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-phenyl]methyl]-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxamide, CM101, squalamine, combretastatin, RPI4610, NX31838, sulfated mannopentaose phosphate, 7,7-(carbonyl-bis[imino-N-methyl-4,2-pyrrolocarbonylimino[N-methyl-4,2-pyrrole]-carbonylimino]-bis-(1,3-naphthalene disulfonate), and 3-[(2,4-dimethylpyrrol-5-yl)methylene]-2-indolinone (SU5416).

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, N-(trifluoromethylphenyl)-5-methylisoxazol-4-carboxamide, 3-[(2,4-dimethylpyrrol-5-yl)methyldenyl)indolin-2-one, 17-(allylamino)-17-demethoxygeldanamycin, 4-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenylamino)-7-methoxy-6-[3-(4-morpholinyl)propoxyl]quinazoline, N-(3-ethynylphenyl)-6,7-bis(2-methoxyethoxy)-4-quinazolinamine, BIBX1382, 2,3,9,10,11,12-hexahydro-10-(hydroxymethyl)-10-hydroxy-9-methyl-9,12-epoxy-1H-diindolo[1,2,3-fg:3′,2′,1′-kl]pyrrolo[3,4-i][1,6]benzodiazocin-1-one, SH268, genistein, imatinib (STI571), CEP2563, 4-(3-chlorophenylamino)-5,6-dimethyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidinemethane sulfonate, 4-(3-bromo-4-hydroxyphenyl)amino-6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline, 4-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)amino-6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline, SU6668, STI571A, N-4-chlorophenyl-4-(4-pyridylmethyl)-1-phthalazinamine, and EMD121974.

Combinations with compounds other than anti-cancer compounds are also encompassed in the instant compositions and methods. For example, combinations of the instantly claimed compounds with PPAR-γ (i.e., PPAR-gamma) agonists and PPAR-δ (i.e., PPAR-delta) agonists are useful in the treatment of certain malignancies. PPAR-γ and PPAR-δ are the nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors γ and δ. The expression of PPAR-γ on endothelial cells and its involvement in angiogenesis has been reported in the literature (see J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. 31:909-913 (1998); J. Biol. Chem. 274:9116-9121 (1999); Invest. Ophthalmol Vis. Sci. 41:2309-2317 (2000)). More recently, PPAR-γ agonists have been shown to inhibit the angiogenic response to VEGF in vitro; both troglitazone and rosiglitazone maleate inhibit the development of retinal neovascularization in mice. ( Arch. Ophthamol. 119:709-717 (2001)). Examples of PPAR-γ agonists and PPAR-γ/α agonists that can be used in combination with the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, thiazolidinediones (such as DRF2725, CS-011, troglitazone, rosiglitazone, and pioglitazone), fenofibrate, gemfibrozil, clofibrate, GW2570, SB219994, AR-H039242, JTT-501, MCC-555, GW2331, GW409544, NN2344, KRP297, NP0110, DRF4158, NN622, GI262570, PNU182716, DRF552926, 2-[(5,7-dipropyl-3-trifluoromethyl-1,2-benzisoxazol-6-yl)oxy]-2-methylpropionic acid (disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 09/782,856), and 2(R)-7-(3-(2-chloro-4-(4-fluorophenoxy) phenoxy)propoxy)-2-ethylchromane-2-carboxylic acid (disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 60/235,708 and 60/244,697).

Another embodiment of the instant invention is the use of the presently disclosed compounds in combination with gene therapy for the treatment of cancer. For an overview of genetic strategies to treating cancer see Hall et al. ( Am J Hum Genet 61:785-789 (1997)) and Kufe et al. ( Cancer Medicine, 5th Ed, pp 876-889, BC Decker, Hamilton, 2000). Gene therapy can be used to deliver any tumor suppressing gene. Examples of such genes include, but are not limited to, p53, which can be delivered via recombinant virus-mediated gene transfer (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,069,134, for example), a uPA/uPAR antagonist (“Adenovirus-Mediated Delivery of a uPA/uPAR Antagonist Suppresses Angiogenesis-Dependent Tumor Growth and Dissemination in Mice,” Gene Therapy, August 5(8):1105-13 (1998)), and interferon gamma ( J Immunol 164:217-222 (2000)).

The compounds of the instant invention may also be administered in combination with an inhibitor of inherent multidrug resistance (MDR), in particular MDR associated with high levels of expression of transporter proteins. Such MDR inhibitors include inhibitors of p-glycoprotein (P-gp), such as LY335979, XR9576, OC144-093, R101922, VX853 and PSC833 (valspodar).

A compound of the present invention may be employed in conjunction with anti-emetic agents to treat nausea or emesis, including acute, delayed, late-phase, and anticipatory emesis, which may result from the use of a compound of the present invention, alone or with radiation therapy. For the prevention or treatment of emesis, a compound of the present invention may be used in conjunction with other anti-emetic agents, especially neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists, 5HT3 receptor antagonists, such as ondansetron, granisetron, tropisetron, and zatisetron, GABAB receptor agonists, such as baclofen, a corticosteroid such as Decadron (dexamethasone), Kenalog, Aristocort, Nasalide, Preferid, Benecorten or others such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,789,118, 2,990,401, 3,048,581, 3,126,375, 3,929,768, 3,996,359, 3,928,326 and 3,749,712, an antidopaminergic, such as the phenothiazines (for example prochlorperazine, fluphenazine, thioridazine and mesoridazine), metoclopramide or dronabinol. In an embodiment, an anti-emesis agent selected from a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist, a 5HT3 receptor antagonist and a corticosteroid is administered as an adjuvant for the treatment or prevention of emesis that may result upon administration of the instant compounds.

Neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists of use in conjunction with the compounds of the present invention are fully described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,162,339, 5,232,929, 5,242,930, 5,373,003, 5,387,595, 5,459,270, 5,494,926, 5,496,833, 5,637,699, 5,719,147; European Patent Publication Nos. EP 0 360 390, 0 394 989, 0 428 434, 0 429 366, 0 430 771, 0 436 334, 0 443 132, 0 482 539, 0 498 069, 0 499 313, 0 512 901, 0 512 902, 0 514 273, 0 514 274, 0 514 275, 0 514 276, 0 515 681, 0 517 589, 0 520 555, 0 522 808, 0 528 495, 0 532 456, 0 533 280, 0 536 817, 0 545 478, 0 558 156, 0 577 394, 0 585 913, 0 590 152, 0 599 538, 0 610 793, 0 634 402, 0 686 629, 0 693 489, 0 694 535, 0 699 655, 0 699 674, 0 707 006, 0 708 101, 0 709 375, 0 709 376, 0 714 891, 0 723 959, 0 733 632 and 0 776 893; PCT International Patent Publication Nos. WO 90/05525, 90/05729, 91/09844, 91/18899, 92/01688, 92/06079, 92/12151, 92/15585, 92/17449, 92/20661, 92/20676, 92/21677, 92/22569, 93/00330, 93/00331, 93/01159, 93/01165, 93/01169, 93/01170, 93/06099, 93/09116, 93/10073, 93/14084, 93/14113, 93/18023, 93/19064, 93/21155, 93/21181, 93/23380, 93/24465, 94/00440, 94/01402, 94/02461, 94/02595, 94/03429, 94/03445, 94/04494, 94/04496, 94/05625, 94/07843, 94/08997, 94/10165, 94/10167, 94/10168, 94/10170, 94/11368, 94/13639, 94/13663, 94/14767, 94/15903, 94/19320, 94/19323, 94/20500, 94/26735, 94/26740, 94/29309, 95/02595, 95/04040, 95/04042, 95/06645, 95/07886, 95/07908, 95/08549, 95/11880, 95/14017, 95/15311, 95/16679, 95/17382, 95/18124, 95/18129, 95/19344, 95/20575, 95/21819, 95/22525, 95/23798, 95/26338, 95/28418, 95/30674, 95/30687, 95/33744, 96/05181, 96/05193, 96/05203, 96/06094, 96/07649, 96/10562, 96/16939, 96/18643, 96/20197, 96/21661, 96/29304, 96/29317, 96/29326, 96/29328, 96/31214, 96/32385, 96/37489, 97/01553, 97/01554, 97/03066, 97/08144, 97/14671, 97/17362, 97/18206, 97/19084, 97/19942 and 97/21702; and in British Patent Publication Nos. 2 266 529, 2 268 931, 2 269 170, 2 269 590, 2 271 774, 2 292 144, 2 293 168, 2 293 169, and 2 302 689. The preparation of such compounds is fully described in the aforementioned patents and publications, which are incorporated herein by reference.

In an embodiment, the neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist for use in conjunction with the compounds of the present invention is selected from: 2-(R)-(1-(R)-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl)ethoxy)-3-(S)-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-(3-(5-oxo-1H,4H-1,2,4-triazolo)methyl)morpholine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,719,147.

A compound of the instant invention may also be useful for treating or preventing cancer, including bone cancer, in combination with bisphosphonates (understood to include bisphosphonates, diphosphonates, bisphosphonic acids and diphosphonic acids). Examples of bisphosphonates include but are not limited to: etidronate (Didronel), pamidronate (Aredia), alendronate (Fosamax), risedronate (Actonel), zoledronate (Zometa), ibandronate (Boniva), incadronate or cimadronate, clodronate, EB-1053, minodronate, neridronate, piridronate and tiludronate including any and all pharmaceutically acceptable salts, derivatives, hydrates and mixtures thereof.

A compound of the instant invention may also be administered with an agent useful in the treatment of anemia. Such an anemia treatment agent is, for example, a continuous eythropoiesis receptor activator (such as epoetin alfa).

A compound of the instant invention may also be administered with an agent useful in the treatment of neutropenia. Such a neutropenia treatment agent is, for example, a hematopoietic growth factor which regulates the production and function of neutrophils such as a human granulocyte colony stimulating factor, (G-CSF). Examples of a G-CSF include filgrastim and PEG-filgrastim.

A compound of the instant invention may also be administered with an immunologic-enhancing drug, such as levamisole, isoprinosine and Zadaxin.

A compound of the instant invention may also be useful for treating or preventing breast cancer in combination with aromatase inhibitors. Examples of aromatase inhibitors include but are not limited to: anastrozole, letrozole and exemestane.

A compound of the instant invention may also be useful for treating or preventing cancer in combination with other siNA therapeutics.

The compounds of the instant invention may also be administered in combination with γ-secretase inhibitors and/or inhibitors of NOTCH signaling. Such inhibitors include compounds described in WO 01/90084, WO 02/30912, WO 01/70677, WO 03/013506, WO 02/36555, WO 03/093252, WO 03/093264, WO 03/093251, WO 03/093253, WO 2004/039800, WO 2004/039370, WO 2005/030731, WO 2005/014553, U.S. Ser. No. 10/957,251, WO 2004/089911, WO 02/081435, WO 02/081433, WO 03/018543, WO 2004/031137, WO 2004/031139, WO 2004/031138, WO 2004/101538, WO 2004/101539 and WO 02/47671 (including LY-450139).

A compound of the instant invention may also be useful for treating or preventing cancer in combination with PARD inhibitors.

A compound of the instant invention may also be useful for treating cancer in combination with the following therapeutic agents: abarelix (Plenaxis Depot®); aldesleukin (Prokine®); Aldesleukin (Proleukin®); Alemtuzumabb (Campath®); alitretinoin (Panretin®); allopurinol(Zyloprim®); altretamine (Hexalen®); amifostine (Ethyol®); anastrozole (Arimidex®); arsenic trioxide (Trisenox®); asparaginase (Elspar®); azacitidine (Vidaza®); bendamustine hydrochloride (Treanda®); bevacuzimab (Avastin®); bexarotene capsules (Targretin®); bexarotene gel (Targretin®); bleomycin (Blenoxane®); bortezomib (Velcade®); brefeldin A; busulfan intravenous (Busulfex®); busulfan oral (Myleran®); calusterone (Methosarb®); capecitabine (Xeloda®); carboplatin (Paraplatin®); carmustine (BCNU®, BiCNU®); carmustine (Gliadel®); carmustine with Polifeprosan 20 Implant (Gliadel Wafer®); celecoxib (Celebrex®); cetuximab (Erbitux®); chlorambucil (Leukeran®); cisplatin (Platinol®); cladribine (Leustatin®, 2-CdA®); clofarabine (Clolar®); cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®, Neosar®); cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan Injection®); cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan Tablet®); cytarabine (Cytosar-U®); cytarabine liposomal (DepoCyt®); dacarbazine (DTIC-Dome®); dactinomycin, actinomycin D (Cosmegen®); dalteparin sodium injection (Fragmin®); Darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp®); dasatinib (Sprycel®); daunorubicin liposomal (DanuoXome®); daunorubicin, daunomycin (Daunorubicin®); daunorubicin, daunomycin (Cerubidine®); degarelix (Firmagon®); Denileukin diftitox (Ontak®); dexrazoxane (Zinecard®); dexrazoxane hydrochloride (Totect®); didemnin B; 17-DMAG; docetaxel (Taxotere®); doxorubicin (Adriamycin PFS®); doxorubicin (Adriamycin®, Rubex®); doxorubicin (Adriamycin PFS Injection®); doxorubicin liposomal (Doxil®); dromostanolone propionate (Dromostanolone®); dromostanolone propionate (Masterone Injection®); eculizumab injection (Soliris®); Elliott's B Solution (Elliott's B Solution®); eltrombopag (Promacta®); epirubicin (Ellence®); Epoetin alfa (Epogen®); erlotinib (Tarceva®); estramustine (Emcyt®); ethinyl estradiol; etoposide phosphate (Etopophos®); etoposide, VP-16 (Vepesid®); everolimus tablets (Afinitor®); exemestane (Aromasin®); ferumoxytol (Fcrahemc Injection®); Filgrastim (Neupogen®); floxuridine (intraarterial) (FUDR®); fludarabine (Fludara®); fluorouracil, 5-FU (Adrucil®); fulvestrant (Faslodex®); gefitinib (Iressa®); geldanamycin; gemcitabine (Gemzar®); gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg®); goserelin acetate (Zoladex Implant®); goserelin acetate (Zoladex®); histrelin acetate (Histrelin Implant®); hydroxyurea (Hydrea®); Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (Zevalin®); idarubicin (Idamycin®); ifosfamidc (IFEX®); imatinib mesylate (Gleevec®); interferon alfa 2a (Roferon A®); Interferon alfa-2b (Intron A®); iobenguane I 123 injection (AdreView®); irinotecan (Camptosar®); ixabepilonc (Ixempra®); lapatinib tablets (Tykerb®); lenalidomide (Revlimid®); letrozole (Femara®); leucovorin (Wellcovorin®, Leucovorin®); Leuprolide Acetate (Eligard®); levamisole (Ergamisol®); lomustine, CCNU (CeeBU); meclorethamine, nitrogen mustard (Mustargen®); megestrol acetate (Megace®); melphalan, L-PAM (Alkeran®); mercaptopurine, 6-MP (Purinethol®); mesna (Mesnex®); mesna (Mesnex Tabs®); methotrexate (Methotrexate®); methoxsalen (Uvadex®); 8-methoxypsoralen; mitomycin C (Mutamycin®); mitotane (Lysodren®); mitoxantrone (Novantrone®); mitramycin; nandrolone phenpropionate (Durabolin-50®); nelarabinc (Arranon®); nilotinib (Tasigna®); Nofetumomab (Verluma®); ofatumumab (Arzerra®); Oprelvekin (Neumega®); oxaliplatin (Eloxatin®); paclitaxel (Paxene®); paclitaxel (Taxol®); paclitaxel protein-bound particles (Abraxane®); palifermin (Kepivance®); pamidronate (Aredia®); panitumumab (Vectibix®); pazopanib tablets (Votrienttm®); pegademase (Adagen (Pegademase Bovine)®); pegaspargase (Oncaspar®); Pegfilgrastim (Neulasta®); pemctrexcd disodium (Alimta®); pentostatin (Nipent®); pipobroman (Vercyte®); plerixafor (Mozobil®); plicamycin, mithramycin (Mithracin®); porfimer sodium (Photofrin®); pralatrexate injection (Folotyn®); procarbazine (Matulane®); quinacrine (Atabrine®); rapamycin; Rasburicase (Elitek®); raloxifene hydrochloride (Evista®); Rituximab (Rituxan®); romidepsin (Istodax®); romiplostim (Nplate®); sargramostim (Leukine®); Sargramostim (Prokine®); sorafenib (Nexavar®); streptozocin (Zanosar®); sunitinib maleate (Sutent®); talc (Sclerosol®); tamoxifen (Nolvadex®); temozolomide (Temodar); temsirolimus (Torisel®); teniposide, VM-26 (Vumon®); testolactone (Teslac®); thioguanine, 6-TG (Thioguanine®); thiopurine; thiotepa (Thioplex®); topotecan (Hycamtin®); toremifene (Fareston®); Tositumomab (Bexxar®); Tositumomab/I-131 tositumomab (Bexxar®); trans-retinoic acid; Trastuzumab (Herceptin®); tretinoin, ATRA (Vesanoid®); triethylenemelamine; Uracil Mustard (Uracil Mustard Capsules®); valrubicin (Valstar®); vinblastine (Velban®); vincristine (Oncovin®); vinorelbine (Navelbine®); vorinostat (Zolinza®); wortmannin; and zoledronate (Zometa®).

The invention also provides a combination comprising an siNA molecule of the invention comprising at least a 15 nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 4918, SEQ ID NO: 194, SEQ ID NO: 5107, SEQ ID NO: 196, SEQ ID NO: 5109, SEQ ID NO: 151, or SEQ ID NO: 5064; or formula (A) and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or physiologically functional derivative thereof together with another CTNNB1 inhibitor.

The combinations referred to above can conveniently be presented for use in the form of a pharmaceutical formulation and thus pharmaceutical compositions comprising a combination as defined above together with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier represent a further aspect of the invention.

The individual compounds of such combinations can be administered either sequentially or simultaneously in separate or combined pharmaceutical formulations. In one embodiment, the individual compounds will be administered simultaneously in a combined pharmaceutical formulation.

Thus, the described molecules could be used in combination with one or more known compounds, treatments, or procedures to prevent or treat diseases, disorders, conditions, and traits described herein in a subject or organism as are known in the art, such as other CTNNB1 inhibitors.

3. Therapeutic Applications

The present body of knowledge in CTNNB1 research indicates the need for methods that can regulate CTNNB1 expression for therapeutic use.

Thus, one aspect of the invention comprises a method of treating a subject including, but not limited to, a human suffering from a condition which is mediated by the action, or by loss of action, of CTNNB1 gene expression, which method comprises administering to said subject an effective amount of a double-stranded siNA molecule of the invention. In one embodiment of this aspect, the siNA molecules comprises at least a 15 nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 4918, SEQ ID NO: 194, SEQ ID NO: 5107, SEQ ID NO: 196, SEQ ID NO: 5109, SEQ ID NO: 151, or SEQ ID NO: 5064; or formula (A). In another embodiment of this aspect, the condition is or is caused by cancer. Thus, in certain embodiments the molecules and compositions of the instant invention are useful in a method for treating cancer. Cancers treatable according to this aspect of the invention include bilary tract cancer, bladder cancer, transitional cell carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, osteosarcoma, brain cancer, gliomas, astrocytomas, breast carcinoma, metaplastic carcinoma, cervical cancer, cervical squamous cell carcinoma, rectal cancer, colorectal carcinoma, colon cancer, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, colorectal adenocarcinomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), endometrial carcinoma, endometrial stromal sarcomas, esophageal cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, esophageal adenocarcinoma, ocular melanoma, uveal melanoma, gallbladder carcinomas, gallbladder adenocarcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, clear cell renal cell carcinoma, transitional cell carcinoma, urothelial carcinomas, wilms tumor, leukemia, acute lymocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic (CLL), chronic myeloid (CML), chronic myelomonocytic (CMML), liver cancer, liver carcinoma, hepatoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, hepatoblastoma, lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), mesothelioma, B-cell lymphomas, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, Mantle cell lymphoma, T-cell lymphomas, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, precursor T-lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia, peripheral T-cell lymphomas, multiple myeloma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), neuroblastoma, oropharyngeal cancer, oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas, osteosarcoma, ovarian carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, pseudopapillary neoplasms, acinar cell carcinomas, prostate cancer, prostate adenocarcinoma, skin cancer, melanoma, malignant melanoma, cutaneous melanoma, small intestine carcinomas, stomach cancer, gastric carcinoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), uterine cancer, uterine sarcoma

In one embodiment, the siNA molecules of the instant invention are useful in a method for treating or preventing cancer selected from: brain cancer, breast carcinoma, cervical cancer, colorectal carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, leukemia, hepatocellular carcinoma, lung cancer, B-cell lymphomas, multiple myeloma, ovarian carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma, and gastric carcinoma. In certain embodiments, the compounds of the instant invention are useful for treating breast carcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, lung cancer; and prostate cancer. In a particular embodiment, the compounds of the instant invention are useful for treating hepatocellular carcinoma.

In another embodiment, the siNA molecules of the instant invention are useful in a method for the prevention or modulation of the metastases of cancer cells and cancer. In particular, the siNA molecules of the instant invention are useful in a method to prevent or modulate the metastases of brain cancer, breast carcinoma, cervical cancer, colorectal carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, leukemia, hepatocellular carcinoma, lung cancer, B-cell lymphomas, multiple myeloma, ovarian carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma, and gastric carcinoma.

In certain embodiments, the administration of the siNA molecule is via local administration or systemic administration. In other embodiments, the invention features contacting the subject or organism with an siNA molecule of the invention via local administration to relevant tissues or cells, such as lung cells and tissues, such as via pulmonary delivery. In yet other embodiments, the invention features contacting the subject or organism with an siNA molecule of the invention via systemic administration (such as via intravenous or subcutaneous administration of siNA) to relevant tissues or cells, such as cancerous tissues or cells in a subject or organism.

siNA molecules of the invention are also used as reagents in ex vivo applications. For example, siNA reagents are introduced into tissue or cells that are transplanted into a subject for therapeutic effect. The cells and/or tissue can be derived from an organism or subject that later receives the explant, or can be derived from another organism or subject prior to transplantation. The siNA molecules can be used to modulate the expression of one or more genes in the cells or tissue, such that the cells or tissue obtain a desired phenotype or are able to perform a function when transplanted in vivo. In one embodiment, certain CTNNB1 target cells from a patient are extracted. These extracted cells are contacted with CTNNB1 siNAs targeting a specific nucleotide sequence within the cells under conditions suitable for uptake of the siNAs by these cells (e.g., using delivery reagents such as cationic lipids, liposomes and the like or using techniques such as electroporation to facilitate the delivery of siNAs into cells). The cells are then reintroduced back into the same patient or other patients.

For therapeutic applications, a pharmaceutically effective dose of the siNA molecules or pharmaceutical compositions of the invention is administered to the subject. A pharmaceutically effective dose is that dose required to prevent, inhibit the occurrence, or treat (alleviate a symptom to some extent, preferably all of the symptoms) a disease state. One skilled in the art can readily determine a therapeutically effective dose of the siNA of the invention to be administered to a given subject, by taking into account factors, such as the size and weight of the subject, the extent of the disease progression or penetration, the age, health, and sex of the subject, the route of administration, and whether the administration is regional or systemic. Generally, an amount between 0.1 μg/kg and 100 mg/kg body weight/day of active ingredients is administered dependent upon potency of the negatively charged polymer. Optimal dosing schedules can be calculated from measurements of drug accumulation in the body of the patient. The siNA molecules of the invention can be administered in a single dose or in multiple doses.

siNA molecules of the instant invention can be administered once monthly, once weekly, once daily (QD), or divided into multiple monthly, weekly, or daily doses, such as, for example, but not limitation, twice daily (BID), three times daily (TID), once every two weeks. Persons of ordinary skill in the art can easily estimate repetition rates for dosing based on measured residence times and concentrations of the drug in bodily fluids or tissues.

In addition, the administration can be continuous, i.e., every day, or intermittently. For example, intermittent administration of a compound of the instant invention may be administration one to six days per week or it may mean administration in cycles (e.g. daily administration for two to eight consecutive weeks, then a rest period with no administration for up to one week) or it may mean administration on alternate days.

G. Administration

Compositions or formulations can be administered in a variety of ways. Non-limiting examples of administration methods of the invention include oral, buccal, sublingual, parenteral (i.e., intraarticularly, intravenously, intraperitoneally, subcutaneously, or intramuscularly), local rectal administration or other local administration. In one embodiment, the composition of the invention can be administered by insufflation and inhalation. Administration can be accomplished via single or divided doses. In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical compositions are administered intravenously or intraperitoneally by a bolus injection (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,634). Lipid nucleic acid particles can be administered by direct injection at the site of disease or by injection at a site distal from the site of disease (see, e.g., Culver, HUMAN GENE THERAPY, MaryAnn Liebert, Inc., Publishers, New York. pp. 70-71(1994)). In one embodiment, the siNA molecules of the invention and formulations or compositions thereof are administered to a cell, subject, or organism as is described herein and as is generally known in the art.

1. In Vivo Administration

In any of the methods of treatment of the invention, the siNA can be administered to the subject systemically as described herein or otherwise known in the art, either alone as a monotherapy or in combination with additional therapies described herein or as are known in the art. Systemic administration can include, for example, pulmonary (inhalation, nebulization etc.) intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, catheterization, nasopharangeal, transdermal, or oral/gastrointestinal administration as is generally known in the art.

In any of the methods of treatment or prevention of the invention, the siNA can be administered to the subject locally or to local tissues as described herein or otherwise known in the art, either alone as a monotherapy or in combination with additional therapies as are known in the art. Local administration can include, for example, inhalation, nebulization, catheterization, implantation, direct injection, dermal/transdermal application, patches, stenting, ear/eye drops, or portal vein administration to relevant tissues, or any other local administration technique, method or procedure, as is generally known in the art.

In one embodiment, the siNA molecules of the invention and formulations or compositions thereof are administered to the liver as is generally known in the art (see for example Wen et al., 2004, World J Gastroenterol., 10, 244-9; Murao et al., 2002, Pharm Res., 19, 1808-14; Liu et al., 2003, gene Ther., 10, 180-7; Hong et al., 2003, J Pharm Pharmacol., 54, 51-8; Herrmann et al., 2004, Arch Virol., 149, 1611-7; and Matsuno et al., 2003, gene Ther., 10, 1559-66).

In one embodiment, the invention features the use of methods to deliver the siNA molecules of the instant invention to hematopoietic cells, including monocytes and lymphocytes. These methods are described in detail by Hartmann et al., 1998, J. Phamacol. Exp. Ther., 285(2), 920-928; Kronenwett et al., 1998, Blood, 91(3), 852-862; Filion and Phillips, 1997, Biochim. Biophys. Acta., 1329(2), 345-356; Ma and Wei, 1996, Leuk. Res., 20(11/12), 925-930; and Bongartz et al., 1994, Nucleic Acids Research, 22(22), 4681-8.

In one embodiment, the siNA molecules of the invention and formulations or compositions thereof are administered directly or topically (e.g., locally) to the dermis or follicles as is generally known in the art (see for example Brand, 2001, Curr. Opin. Mol. Ther., 3, 244-8; Regnier et al., 1998, J. Drug Target, 5, 275-89; Kanikkannan, 2002, BioDrugs, 16, 339-47; Wraight et al., 2001, Pharmacol. Ther., 90, 89-104; and Preat and Dujardin, 2001, STP PharmaSciences, 11, 57-68). In one embodiment, the siNA molecules of the invention and formulations or compositions thereof are administered directly or topically using a hydroalcoholic gel formulation comprising an alcohol (e.g., ethanol or isopropanol), water, and optionally including additional agents such isopropyl myristate and carbomer 980. In other embodiments, the siNA are formulated to be administered topically to the nasal cavity. Topical preparations can be administered by one or more applications per day to the affected area; over skin areas occlusive dressings can advantageously be used. Continuous or prolonged delivery can be achieved by an adhesive reservoir system.

In one embodiment, an siNA molecule of the invention is administered iontophoretically, for example to a particular organ or compartment (e.g., the eye, back of the eye, heart, liver, kidney, bladder, prostate, tumor, CNS etc.). Non-limiting examples of iontophoretic delivery are described in, for example, WO 03/043689 and WO 03/030989, which are incorporated by reference in their entireties herein.

In one embodiment, the siNA molecules of the invention and formulations or compositions thereof are administered to the lung as is described herein and as is generally known in the art. In another embodiment, the siNA molecules of the invention and formulations or compositions thereof are administered to lung tissues and cells as is described in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2006/0062758; 2006/0014289; and 2004/0077540.

2. Aerosols and Delivery Devices

a. Aerosol Formulations

The compositions of the present invention, either alone or in combination with other suitable components, can be made into aerosol formulations (i.e., they can be “nebulized”) to be administered via inhalation (e.g., intranasally or intratracheally) (see, Brigham et al., Am. J. Sci., 298:278 (1989)). Aerosol formulations can be placed into pressurized acceptable propellants, such as dichlorodifluoromethane, propane, nitrogen, and the like.

In one embodiment, the siNA molecules of the invention and formulations thereof are administered via pulmonary delivery, such as by inhalation of an aerosol or spray dried formulation administered by an inhalation device or nebulizer, providing rapid local uptake of the nucleic acid molecules into relevant pulmonary tissues. Solid particulate compositions containing respirable dry particles of micronized nucleic acid compositions can be prepared by grinding dried or lyophilized nucleic acid compositions, and then passing the micronized composition through, for example, a 400 mesh screen to break up or separate out large agglomerates. A solid particulate composition comprising the siNA compositions of the invention can optionally contain a dispersant which serves to facilitate the formation of an aerosol as well as other therapeutic compounds. A suitable dispersant is lactose, which can be blended with the nucleic acid compound in any suitable ratio, such as a 1 to 1 ratio by weight.

Spray compositions comprising siNA molecules or compositions of the invention can, for example, be formulated as aqueous solutions or suspensions or as aerosols delivered from pressurized packs, such as a metered dose inhaler, with the use of a suitable liquefied propellant. In one embodiment, aerosol compositions of the invention suitable for inhalation can be either a suspension or a solution and generally contain an siNA molecule comprising at least a 15 nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 4918, SEQ ID NO: 194, SEQ ID NO: 5107, SEQ ID NO: 196, SEQ ID NO: 5109, SEQ ID NO: 151, or SEQ ID NO: 5064; or formula (A), and a suitable propellant such as a fluorocarbon or hydrogen-containing chlorofluorocarbon or mixtures thereof, particularly hydrofluoroalkanes, especially 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoro-n-propane or a mixture thereof. The aerosol composition can optionally contain additional formulation excipients well known in the art such as surfactants. Non-limiting examples include oleic acid, lecithin or an oligolactic acid or derivative such as those described in WO94/21229 and WO98/34596 and co-solvents for example ethanol. In one embodiment a pharmaceutical aerosol formulation of the invention comprising a compound of the invention and a fluorocarbon or hydrogen-containing chlorofluorocarbon or mixtures thereof as propellant, optionally in combination with a surfactant and/or a co-solvent.

The aerosol formulations of the invention can be buffered by the addition of suitable buffering agents.

Aerosol formulations can include optional additives including preservatives if the formulation is not prepared sterile. Non-limiting examples include, methyl hydroxybenzoate, anti-oxidants, flavorings, volatile oils, buffering agents and emulsifiers and other formulation surfactants. In one embodiment, fluorocarbon or perfluorocarbon carriers are used to reduce degradation and provide safer biocompatible non-liquid particulate suspension compositions of the invention (e.g., siNA and/or LNP formulations thereof). In another embodiment, a device comprising a nebulizer delivers a composition of the invention (e.g., siNA and/or LNP formulations thereof) comprising fluorochemicals that are bacteriostatic thereby decreasing the potential for microbial growth in compatible devices.

Capsules and cartridges comprising the composition of the invention for use in an inhaler or insufflator, of for example gelatine, can be formulated containing a powder mix for inhalation of a compound of the invention and a suitable powder base such as lactose or starch. In one embodiment, each capsule or cartridge contains an siNA molecule comprising at least a 15 nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 4918, SEQ ID NO: 194, SEQ ID NO: 5107, SEQ ID NO: 196, SEQ ID NO: 5109, SEQ ID NO: 151, or SEQ ID NO: 5064; or formula (A), and one or more excipients. In another embodiment, the compound of the invention can be presented without excipients such as lactose

The aerosol compositions of the present invention can be administered into the respiratory system as a formulation including particles of respirable size, e.g. particles of a size sufficiently small to pass through the nose, mouth and larynx upon inhalation and through the bronchi and alveoli of the lungs. In general, respirable particles range from about 0.5 to 10 microns in size. In one embodiment, the particulate range can be from 1 to 5 microns. In another embodiment, the particulate range can be from 2 to 3 microns. Particles of non-respirable size which are included in the aerosol tend to deposit in the throat and be swallowed, and the quantity of non-respirable particles in the aerosol is thus minimized. For nasal administration, a particle size in the range of 10-500 urn is preferred to ensure retention in the nasal cavity.

In some embodiments, an siNA composition of the invention is administered topically to the nose for example, for the treatment of rhinitis, via pressurized aerosol formulations, aqueous formulations administered to the nose by pressurized pump or by nebulization. Suitable formulations contain water as the diluent or carrier for this purpose. In certain embodiments, the aqueous formulations for administration of the composition of the invention to the lung or nose can be provided with conventional excipients such as buffering agents, tonicity modifying agents and the like.

b. Devices

The siNA molecules of the invention can be formulated and delivered as particles and/or aerosols as discussed above and dispensed from various aerosolization devices known by those of skill in the art.

Aerosols of liquid or non-liquid particles comprising an siNA molecule or formulation of the invention can be produced by any suitable means, such as with a device comprising a nebulizer (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,729) such as ultrasonic or air jet nebulizers.

Solid particle aerosols comprising an siNA molecule or formulation of the invention and surfactant can be produced with any solid particulate aerosol generator. One type of solid particle aerosol generator used with the siNA molecules of the invention is an insufflator. A second type of illustrative aerosol generator comprises a metered dose inhaler (“MDI”). MDIs containing siNA molecules or formulations taught herein can be prepared by methods of the art (for example, see Byron, above and WO96/32099).

The siNA molecules can also be formulated as a fluid formulation for delivery from a fluid dispenser, such as those described and illustrated in WO05/044354.

In certain embodiments of the invention, nebulizer devices are used in applications for conscious, spontaneously breathing subjects, and for controlled ventilated subjects of all ages. The nebulizer devices can be used for targeted topical and systemic drug delivery to the lung. In one embodiment, a device comprising a nebulizer is used to deliver an siNA molecule or formulation of the invention locally to lung or pulmonary tissues. In another embodiment, a device comprising a nebulizer is used to deliver a an siNA molecule or formulation of the invention systemically.

H. Other Applications/Uses of siNA Molecules of the Invention

The siNA molecules of the invention can also be used for diagnostic applications, research applications, and/or manufacture of medicants.

In one aspect, the invention features a method for diagnosing a disease, trait, or condition in a subject comprising administering to the subject a composition of the invention under conditions suitable for the diagnosis of the disease, trait, or condition in the subject.

In one embodiment, siNA molecules of the invention are used to down regulate or inhibit the expression of CTNNB1 proteins arising from haplotype polymorphisms that are associated with a trait, disease or condition in a subject or organism. Analysis of CTNNB1 genes, or CTNNB1 protein or RNA levels can be used to identify subjects with such polymorphisms or those subjects who are at risk of developing traits, conditions, or diseases described herein. These subjects are amenable to treatment, for example, treatment with siNA molecules of the invention and any other composition useful in treating diseases related to target gene expression. As such, analysis of CTNNB1 protein or RNA levels can be used to determine treatment type and the course of therapy in treating a subject. Monitoring of CTNNB1 protein or RNA levels can be used to predict treatment outcome and to determine the efficacy of compounds and compositions that modulate the level and/or activity of certain CTNNB1 proteins associated with a trait, disorder, condition, or disease.

In another embodiment, the invention comprises use of a double-stranded nucleic acid according to the invention for use in the manufacture of a medicament. In an embodiment, the medicament is for use in treating a condition that is mediated by the action, or by loss of action, of CTNNB1. In one embodiment, the medicament is for use for the treatment of cancer. In an embodiment, the medicament is for use for the treatment of brain cancer, breast carcinoma, cervical cancer, colorectal carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, leukemia, hepatocellular carcinoma, lung cancer, B-cell lymphomas, multiple myeloma, ovarian carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma, and gastric carcinoma. In a particular embodiment, the compounds of the instant invention are useful for treating hepatocellular carcinoma.

In certain embodiments, siNAs wherein at least one strand comprises at least a 15 nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 4918, SEQ ID NO: 194, SEQ ID NO: 5107, SEQ ID NO: 196, SEQ ID NO: 5109, SEQ ID NO: 151, or SEQ ID NO: 5064; or formula (A), are for use in a method for treating a cancer, such as, for example but not limitation, brain cancer, breast carcinoma, cervical cancer, colorectal carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, leukemia, hepatocellular carcinoma, lung cancer, B-cell lymphomas, multiple myeloma, ovarian carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma, and gastric carcinoma.

I. Examples

The invention will now be illustrated with the following non-limiting examples. Those of skill in the art will readily recognize a variety of non-critical parameters which can be changed or modified to yield essentially the same results.