Diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), as the most common subtype of B Cell Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL), is one of the lymphoid malignancies with poor prognosis worldwide. Non-coding RNA activated by the DNA damage (NORAD), a novel identified lncRNA involved in the DNA repairment process, is reportedly to participate in carcinogenesis, and it is predicted to sponge miR-345-3p. However, LncRNA NORAD has never been investigated in DLBCL.To investigate the role of LncRNA NORAD and miR-345-3p in DLBCL cells and explore the underlying mechanisms.LncRNA NORAD and miR-345-3p levels were determined in the blood samples from patients with B-NHL. Human DLBCL cell lines DB and SU-DHL-4 were transfected with LncRNA NORAD small interfering RNA, miRNA-345-3p mimics, or miRNA-345-3p inhibitor using Lipofectamine RNAiMAX Reagent. Cell cycle, proliferation, and apoptosis were assessed in the transfected cells.Silencing of lncRNA NORAD and overexpression of miR-345-3p both inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest, and triggered apoptosis in DLBCL cells. Inhibition of miR-345-3p counteracted the suppression effects of LncRNA NORAD silencing on DLBCL progression. In addition, LncRNA NORAD shared the regulatory binding sites of miR-345-3p with TNF receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6). Knockdown of LncRNA NORAD decreased the levels of TRAF6, simultaneously, resulted in deactivation of PI3K/Akt pathway in DLBCL cells.LncRNA NORAD regulated DLBCL cell growth and apoptosis via miR-345-3p/TRAF6/PI3K/Akt axis.Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.