Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of down-regulation of CDH13 expression by siRNA on the proliferation and invasion of bladder cancer 5637 cell. Methods Bladder cancer 5637 cells was used to for this study, siRNA was used to down-regulate the CDH13 expression, and then western-blot was used to detect the expression of CDH13, MTT assay was used to determine the proliferation of 5637 cells , the Transwell test was used to detect the invasion ability of the 5637 cells. Results The result of western blot analysis suggested that expression of CDH13 was decreased significantly in interference group. The proliferation ability of 5637 cells in the interference group was accelerated significantly, and the difference was statistically significant compared with the blank control group and negative control group (P﹤0.05). The invasion ability of 5637 cells was increased markedly after the inhibition of CDH13 expression by siRNA, and and the difference was statistically significant compared with the blank control group and negative control group (P﹤0.05). Conclusions The expression of CDH13 in bladder 5637 cells can be inhibited specifically by siRNA. The proliferation and invasion ability of 5637 cells was accelerated after the down-regulation of CDH13 expression. Down-regulation of CDH13 expression is an important factor to promote the development of bladder cancer.