Curcumin is an active component of the medicinal plant turmeric, which has been reported to have anti‑metastatic activities and induce autophagy in numerous cancer types. Bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC), one of the major active curcumin derivatives present in turmeric, was previously shown to trigger autophagy in highly metastatic large‑cell lung cancer 95D cells. However, the effects of the induction of autophagy by BDMC on the invasion and migration of 95D cells has remained elusive. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of BDMC on the invasion and migration of highly metastatic large‑cell lung cancer 95D cells. Meanwhile we observed the effect of autophagy induced by BDMC on the migration and invasion in 95D cells. Transwell assays showed that BDMC exerted an inhibitory effect on the migration and invasion of 95D cells. Furthermore, the expression of vimentin was downregulated, while E‑cadherin expression was upregulated in 95D cells treated with BDMC. In addition, blockage of autophagy through Beclin1‑targeted small interfering RNA attenuated the inhibition of BDMC on 95D-cell migration and invasion. These findings provided direct evidence that BDMC inhibits 95D-cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, the inhibition of 95D-cell migration and invasion was associated with the downregulation of vimentin expression and the upregulation of E‑cadherin expression. Autophagy was involved in the anti‑cancer effects of BDMC on 95D cells. The present study provided novel insight into the underlying mechanisms of the anti-cancer effect of BDMC.