Nature Cell Biology, Published online: 22 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41556-026-01977-x Metastatic relapse can occur long after dissemination, suggesting that dormant tumour cells retain the capacity to eventually ‘reawaken’. A study now shows that loss of MED4 reshapes enhancers, creating a primed, plastic state that enables desmoplastic niche formation and sensing, ultimately facilitating metastatic outgrowth.