Effects of short-hairpin RNA-inhibited β-catenin expression on the growth of human multiple myeloma cells in vitro and in vivo

► β-Catenin expression were markedly down-regulated by CTNNB1 shRNA. ► CTNNB1 shRNA could inhibit the proliferation of RPMI8226 cells. ► Significantly profound apoptotic cell death in CTNNB1 shRNA cells. ► In vivo, CTNNB1 silence led to a growth inhibition of myeloma growth. ► c-myc and β-catenin in the expression cells of cleaved caspase-3 were increased.