Objective To discuss the safety and clinical differences among elderly people being treated with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy combined with operation. Methods To analyze retrospectively the data of patients diagnosed definitely as colorectal cancer in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from June 2007 to December 2007, and to compare the clinical effect differences between elderly group (≥60 years) and non-elderly group (lt;60 years) with combined therapy. Results Among preoperative indexes, the constituent ratios of elderly group combined with cardiac vessels system diseases, endocrine system diseases or other system diseases were all obviously higher than those of non-elderly group, the differences showed statistical significance (Plt;0.05); Constituent ratio of elderly patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus was also higher than that of non-elderly patients, there were still statistical significance (Plt;0.05), but no statistical significances among other preoperative indexes (Pgt;0.05); Differences of indexes during operation between two groups showed no statistical significance (Pgt;0.05). But during postoperative indexes, complications in elderly group were higher than those of non-elderly group, and the differences had statistical significance (Plt;0.05), and the time of removing gastric canal, urinary catheter and drainage tube between two groups showed no statistical significance (Pgt;0.05); Meanwhile, the intake time, venting time and defecation time after operation and out-of-bed activity time after operation also had no statistical significance (Pgt;0.05). As to the adverse effect relate to chemotherapy, there were no statistical significances (Pgt;0.05). Conclusion Elderly patients may have more poor physical condition and it maybe more difficult to treat them. In spite of this, the comprehensive treatment of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy combined with surgical operation will not lead to the delay of surgical therapy, in addition, operating modus during surgical intervention will not be effected and its therapeutic effect in the near future was optimistic. So the application of this combined therapy has some clinical effects and would be safety.