Overexpression of Cyclin D1 and Bcl-xL proteins has often been found in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These two genes may play a significant role in tumorigenesis. However, the combined inhibition of the two genes in vitro is unclear in NSCLC. In this study, the effect of a combined intervention on Cyclin D1 and Bcl-xL in NSCLC is assessed and discussed. Three recombinant plasmids that expressed a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter-driven micro30 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting the Cyclin D1 gene (Cyclin D1 shRNA), the Bcl-xL gene (Bcl-xL shRNA) and a combination of the two genes (Cyclin D1-Bcl-xL shRNA), based on the plasmid pcDNA6.2-GW/EmGFP-miR, were constructed. The cell lines A549 and NCI-H441 were divided into four groups; blank control (untreated cells), Cyclin D1 shRNA, Bcl-xL shRNA and Cyclin D1-Bcl-xL shRNA (transfected cells), respectively. The expression of mRNA and protein of Cyclin D1 or Bcl-xL was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively. The apoptosis and proliferation of the two cell lines were evaluated by dimethylthiazol-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), cell count and flow cytometry. The recombinant plasmid sufficiently mediated the RNA interference (RNAi) effects in A549 and NCI-H441 cells. The expression levels of mRNA and protein of Cyclin D1 or Bcl-xL in the three intervention groups were significantly reduced compared to the untreated cells (P<0.05). No statistical differences were found among the combined shRNAs and single shRNA regarding Cyclin D1 or Bcl-xL, respectively (P>0.05). In the assessment of proliferation and apoptosis, it was found that in all three intervention groups there was significant inhibition of cell proliferation and promotion of cell apoptosis compared with the untreated cells (P<0.05). Furthermore, the combined interference of the two genes was more effective than either single interference (P<0.05). Our results suggested that the combined targeting of Cyclin D1 and Bcl-xL genes has potential for NSCLC investigation, providing increased efficacy over Cyclin D1 or Bcl-xL inhibition alone.