There is growing evidence that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are related to cancer development. In the present study, we found that the expression levels of lncRNA-SNHG7 mRNA and protein obviously increased in lung cancer tissues compared to adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Simultaneously, the expression levels of Fas apoptotic inhibitory molecule 2 (FAIM2) also increased in lung cancer tissues. In addition, lncRNA-SNHG7 was of positive relevance with FAIM2 in human lung cancer tissues. Silence of lncRNA‑SNHG7 by siRNA repressed the level of FAIM2 protein and suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion and accelerated apoptosis of A594 cells in vitro. Furthermore, silence of FAIM2 by siRNA generated a phenotype similar to silence of lncRNA-SNHG7 by siRNA. Therefore, our research showed that lncRNA-SNHG7 promotes the proliferation, migration and invasion, and inhibits apoptosis of lung cancer cells by enhancing the FAIM2 expression, suggesting that lncRNA-SNHG7 as a key regulator of gene expression, may be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of lung cancer. It may improve the understanding of their biogenesis and function of lung cancer and further provide the theoretical fundamental basis for cancer pathogenesis and treatment.