Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of ibuprofen on proliferation and migration of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) cell line NCI-H460 and breast cancer cell line SKBR3, and to discuss the possible mechanism. Methods MTT method was used to detect the proliferation inhibition of the two cancer cell lines after ibuprofen treatment for 24, 48, and 72 h; and Transwell assay was used to study the cell migration in vitro. Real-time PCR and Western blotting analysis were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of survivin and E-cadherin after ibuprofen treatment. Results MTT assay showed that ibuprofen treatment decreased cell growth in the two cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Ibuprofen treatment (2 mmol/L,12 h) significantly inhibited the cell metastasis in the two cell lines. Moreover, real-time PCR and Western blotting analysis showed that ibuprofen treatment caused a reduction in survivin expression and elevation in E-cadherin expression at both mRNA and protein levels. Conclusion Ibuprofen can significantly inhibit human NSCLC proliferation and metastasis in vitro, which might be related to degreased expression of survivin and increased expression of E-cadherin.