Aim:Meningioma, the most common type of primary benign tumor in the central nervous system, accounts for approximately one-third of all brain tumors. Cancer stem cells may be responsible for tumor recurrence after total resection, but whether meningiomas contain cancer stem cells is unclear. The aim of the present study is to investigate the expression of cancer stem cell markers in meningiomas.Material and Methods:CD133, Nestin and Sox2 expression levels in 35 paraffin-embedded meningioma tissue samples were assessed using immunohistochemistry. Results:In this study, five cases were atypical (Grade II, WHO), two were anaplastic (Grade III, WHO), and 28 were benign (Grade I, WHO). Among atypical and anaplastic meningiomas, all were positive for Nestin and CD133, and 4 were positive for Sox2. Of the 28 benign meningiomas, 23 were positive for Nestin, 11 were positive for CD133, and none were positive for Sox2. In addition, Nestin and CD133 were expressed at significantly higher levels in the non-benign group than in the benign group.Conclusion:Nestin, CD133 and Sox2 expression levels may be correlated with the WHO pathological grade. Specifically, more aggressive meningiomas are characterized by higher positivity rates and higher levels of Nestin, CD133 and Sox2 expression in positive cells.