Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to be involved in the occurrence and progression of multiple cancers. In this study, we investigated the role of the lncRNA DANCR in the development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). First, we found that DANCR was markedly upregulated in NSCLC tumor tissues and cell lines compared with related normal controls. The ectopic expression of DANCR significantly increased the proliferation, migration and invasion of SPC-A1 and NCL-H1299 cells. Furthermore, we investigated whether DANCR regulates NSCLC tumor formation in vivo. Subsequently, we concluded that DANCR promotes NSCLC cell proliferation, migration and invasion by regulating the tumor suppressor miR-758-3p. These results indicated that the DANCR/miR-758-3p axis could be a potential target in the treatment of NSCLC.