In the current research, we validated that MCM3AP-AS1 expression was up-regulated in NSCLC tissues and MCM3AP-AS1 enhanced the proliferation and metastasis of NSCLC cells; mechanistically, it was unmasked that MCM3AP-AS1 exerted tumor-promoting effects by modulating the miR-195-5p/E2F transcription factor 3 (E2F3) axis. This evidence concerns the gene E2F3 and non-small cell lung carcinoma.